US Secretary, Rex Tillerson Will Travel To Abuja

by Mercy Abang

Secretary Rex Tillerson will travel to N’Djamena, Chad; Djibouti, Djibouti; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Nairobi, Kenya; and Abuja, Nigeria, March 6-13, 2018, on his first official trip to Africa, officials say.

According to the statement issued by Heather Nauert, Spokesperson of the US State Department, Secretary Tillerson will meet with leadership in each country, as well as the leadership of the African Union Commission based in Addis Ababa, to further our partnerships with the governments and people of Africa.

“In particular, he plans to discuss ways we can work with our partners to counter terrorism, advance peace and security, promote good governance, and spur mutually beneficial trade and investment.” the statement reads.

“During his trip, he will also meet with U.S. Embassy personnel and participate in events related to U.S. government-supported activities.”

Announcement of Tillerson’s trip to Abuja comes only a day after Four aid workers were killed in a Boko Haram attack in Rann, in northeast Nigeria – it is however not clear if the meeting with Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari will centre on the rising terrorists activities in Nigeria.

The United Nations said on Friday, that the attack on aide workers is the latest violence to hit the remote town.

The latest attack in Rann, Borno State Nigeria, happened “after dark” outside a camp housing some 55,000 people displaced by the conflict and appeared to target the military, said UN spokeswoman Samantha Newport.

In January last year, a botched Nigerian air strike intended to hit jihadist fighters killed at least 112 people as aid workers distributed food.