straight talk

US – Africa: Leaders Summit was a chance for ‘candid discussions’ with African leaders, says Molly Phee

By Julian Pecquet

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Posted on December 23, 2022 18:43

It’s been a busy 15 months for the State Department’s top Africa official driving the Joe Biden administration’s policy of respectful re-engagement with the continent while helming US diplomatic leadership on an array of crises from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa.

We caught up with Assistant Secretary of State Mary Catherine “Molly” Phee in her office as she was still recovering from the first US-Africa Leaders Summit since President Barack Obama back in 2014.

The Africa Report: The Biden administration just hosted 49 African leaders for the US-Africa Leaders Summit. With dozens of discussions ranging from peace and security to business and trade, what are the administration’s main priorities for the US-Africa relationship?

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