Yellen heads to Africa next month in US push to strengthen ties

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will vacation to Africa in January, deepening the Biden administration’s engagement with the continent amid a broader drive to counter China’s impact in developing nations.

Yellen will have stops in Senegal, Zambia and South Africa throughout the Jan. 17-28 tour, the Treasury Division claimed in a assertion Friday.

President Joe Biden, Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo are also scheduled to stop by African countries in the new year. The visits will follow the first summit of African leaders in Washington in six a long time.

Biden announced his designs this 7 days as he hosted more than 40 heads of state from the continent.

“While in Africa, Secretary Yellen will emphasize the Biden-Harris administration’s function to deepen US-Africa economic ties, which include by growing trade and financial commitment flows,” the Treasury said.

Yellen’s go to to Zambia arrives as that country is asking creditors to compose off component of its fantastic credit card debt that it is struggling to repay due to the fact defaulting additional than two many years in the past. The US has referred to as out China for what Washington regards as inadequate financial debt aid for African borrowers which includes Zambia.

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