This will be Antony Blinken's return to the African continent, where the United States seeks to counter the advances of Russia and China.
"Throughout the trip, the secretary will highlight how the United States has accelerated the US-Africa partnership since the US-Africa Leaders' Summit, including in areas such as climate, food and health security," the State Department said in a statement.
"It will also emphasize our economic partnership focused on the future and how the United States is investing in infrastructure in Africa to boost bilateral trade, create jobs nationally and across the continent, and help Africa compete in the global marketplace," he added.
Security partnerships, respect for human rights, promotion of democracy and the expansion of the rule of law will also be priorities for the leader of North American diplomacy on his return to Africa, after a series of trips to the Middle East focusing on the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
Also according to the executive, Blinken will reaffirm Washington's commitment to coastal partners in West Africa through the Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability, the United States' partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address regional challenges.
On the other hand, supporting African leadership in de-escalating tensions and adopting diplomatic solutions to the conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo will be one of Antony Blinken's priorities.
"The United States reaffirms its sustained commitment to high-level US engagement in Africa," according to the same note.
This will be the Secretary of State's fourth trip to Africa since he took office.
Blinken's visit follows Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Ivory Coast on Wednesday, the last stop on an African trip that took him to Egypt, Tunisia and Togo.
In November, North American President Joe Biden met with his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, at the White House and promised to visit the African country.
The President of the United States, who wants to compete with China and Beijing's gigantic investments in Africa, has sought to continue the US-Africa Leaders' Summit, held in December 2022, in particular with regard to how the The United States and African nations can continue to work together to address regional and global challenges.
