Foreign
By Kennedy Nnamani
AS Wendy Sherman, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State wraps up her tour on the African continent, she stated that her trip was to deepen partnership and relationship with the African states. She declared this recently in a virtual press briefing to mark the end of her visits.
She noted that the U.S Government seeks more consultation and open dialogue to identify areas of mutual ground to solve common problems and possible conflict of interest.
She disclosed this while she visited South Africa, she met with Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor; S.A Foreign Minister, Alvin Botes; S.A Deputy Foreign Minister, business leaders and entrepreneurs like Nike Soweto, to discuss on deepening trade and investment, shared commitment to fight against climate change and the COVID pandemic, peace and security.
While highlighting that over 600 American businesses operate in South Africa and employ over 200,000 South Africans, she noted that the U.S wants “to do more to strengthen our economic relationship and our support for the young population of South Africa looking for a future, looking for a job,” which she demonstrated by presenting the International Women of Courage award to Roegchanda Pascoe, a community leader and activist working to address gender-based violence and to help young people access psychosocial services.
Sherman further disclosed that in partnership with the Angolan Government, the United States launched the Global VAX initiative to help overcome the COVID-19 pandemic
“In Angola, the United States will be providing more than $25 million in new resources through Global VAX to do just that,” she said.
While speaking with João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço; Angolan President, Tete Antonio; Foreign Minister and General Francisco Furtado; Minister of State on strategic partnership, Deputy Secretary Sherman noted that the U.S is working to deepen cooperation between the United States and Angola on maritime security, renewable energy, public health, and to further improve transparency in Angola’s business sector and help increase U.S. investment.
Speaking on her visit to Gabon, Sherman stated that she met with Ali Bongo Ondimba; the President of Gabon, Michael Moussa Adamo; Foreign Minister and Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili; Defense Minister to discuss “our strategic partnership and close collaboration on climate change and environmental conservation deepen our security relationship among many other issues.”
“In all three countries, we also discussed Russia’s war in Ukraine,” she added.
KN
Tags: Ali Bongo Ondimba Alvin Botes Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili Francisco Furtado Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço Kennedy Nnamani Michael Moussa Adamo Wendy Sherman
