shared misgivings

US to visit France to discuss rising influence of China, Russia in Africa

By Julian Pecquet

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Posted on October 22, 2021 10:27

French Economy and Finance Minister Le Maire meets US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Kerry in Paris
French and U.S. flags in Paris, France, March 10, 2021. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

The US State Department’s new top Africa official is headed to France on the tail end of her first trip abroad, as the two allies confront lingering terrorist threats as well as rising Chinese and Russian influence on the continent.

Mary Catherine ‘Molly’ Phee, the assistant secretary of state for African Affairs, will travel to Paris on Friday and Saturday after stops in Ghana and Burkina Faso. She was confirmed by the Senate on 23 September after months of Republican obstruction in Congress.

READ MORE US: Republican obstruction of Biden’s Africa team begins to crumble

“We took the opportunity following the assistant secretary’s recent travel to Ghana and Burkina Faso to include a consultation with our French allies to discuss our shared global and regional priorities,” an emailed statement from the State Department spokesperson says.

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