US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in South Africa on Africa tour

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken started his three-nation tour of Africa along with his arrival in South Africa on Sunday.

Blinken’s go to to Africa is seen as a part of a contest between Russia and Western powers for assist from African nations over the battle in Ukraine. Blinken’s journey to Africa follows current excursions by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and French President Emmanuel Macron.

South Africa is considered one of many African nations which have maintained a impartial stance on the battle and haven’t publicly criticized Russia.

On Sunday after an early morning arrival, Blinken is to go to the Hector Pieterson memorial in Soweto township, which commemorates a scholar killed in 1976 when protesting South Africa’s regime of racial oppression, apartheid, which led to 1994.

On Monday, Blinken will describe the United States’ methods for sub-Saharan Africa in a serious coverage speech on the University of Pretoria. Africa has been hard-hit by the impact of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and the rising meals and oil costs attributable to Russia’s battle in Ukraine.

Blinken and Pandor may also maintain a press convention Monday through which the 2 nations’ completely different positions on the Ukraine battle are anticipated to be seen.

Blinken will go on to go to Congo and Rwanda this week to finish his worldwide tour which additionally took him to Cambodia and the Philippines.