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| Melania Trump: US first lady set for solo Africa trip | Melania Trump: US first lady set for solo Africa trip |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US First Lady Melania Trump is set to arrive in Ghana's capital, Accra, in a solo trip that will see her visit four African countries. | US First Lady Melania Trump is set to arrive in Ghana's capital, Accra, in a solo trip that will see her visit four African countries. |
| The tour will focus on promoting health care and education programmes run by US foreign aid organisation USAID. | The tour will focus on promoting health care and education programmes run by US foreign aid organisation USAID. |
| She will also visit Kenya, Malawi and Egypt to foster diplomatic relations. | She will also visit Kenya, Malawi and Egypt to foster diplomatic relations. |
| In February, a row broke out after President Donald Trump allegedly used the word "shithole" to describe African nations. | In February, a row broke out after President Donald Trump allegedly used the word "shithole" to describe African nations. |
| Mrs Trump's trip to the continent is seen as helping to heal some of the divisions. | Mrs Trump's trip to the continent is seen as helping to heal some of the divisions. |
| She will also promote her Be Best initiative which aims to tackle issues such as cyberbullying and boost healthy living. She tweeted that the campaign was going "international". | She will also promote her Be Best initiative which aims to tackle issues such as cyberbullying and boost healthy living. She tweeted that the campaign was going "international". |
| Mrs Trump said ahead of her trip that she was looking forward to visit "four beautiful and very different countries in Africa". | Mrs Trump said ahead of her trip that she was looking forward to visit "four beautiful and very different countries in Africa". |
| "She is interested in Africa because she has never been before and knows that each country will have its own unique history and culture." Stephanie Grisham, her communications director, said. | "She is interested in Africa because she has never been before and knows that each country will have its own unique history and culture." Stephanie Grisham, her communications director, said. |
| What does President Trump think of Africa? | |
| Ahead of his wife's trip to Africa President Trump told reporters: "We both love Africa. Africa is so beautiful. The most beautiful part of the world, in many ways." | |
| This view is at odds with comments he allegedly made in a private discussion in February, | |
| Mr Trump was accused of racism, after he was reported to have used the word "shithole" to refer to African nations when talking about immigration policy. | |
| The African Union asked him to apologise over the comment. | |
| He later told reporters: "I am not a racist. I'm the least racist person you have ever interviewed." | |
| In August the president angered the South African government by falsely claiming that there was large-scale killing of white farmers in South Africa. | |
| The South African government reacted swiftly to refute Mr Trump's assertion that white South Africans were being targeted. | |
| It is not known if Mr Trump ever visited Africa before he became president or whether he had any business links with Africa. | |
| What is the administration's Africa policy? | |
| President Trump has not paid much attention to the continent, but has welcomed three African leaders, the presidents of Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya, to the White House. | |
| When Rex Tillerson, Mr Trump's first secretary of state, visited Africa in March he said the themes of his trip were: counterterrorism, democracy, governance, trade and investment. | |
| Mr Tillerson warned Africa of China's economic engagement with the continent which he said encouraged dependency, utilised corrupt deals and endangered its natural resources. | |
| He also announced a $533m (£380m) humanitarian African aid plan. | |
| On the counterterrorism front Mr Trump's administration has escalated the fight against Islamist militants in the Sahel region and in Somalia. | |
| The US has set up a drone base in Niger which is operated by the CIA. |