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Hillary Clinton arrives in Africa | |
(40 minutes later) | |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Kenya to begin an 11-day tour of the African continent. | |
Her trip will include South Africa, Nigeria, Liberia and Angola and she will meet Somali leaders in Kenya. | Her trip will include South Africa, Nigeria, Liberia and Angola and she will meet Somali leaders in Kenya. |
The visit, her longest overseas journey in her post to date, is part of an attempt by the US to show that Africa remains a key foreign policy priority. | The visit, her longest overseas journey in her post to date, is part of an attempt by the US to show that Africa remains a key foreign policy priority. |
Development issues - including food security, health and gender concerns - are expected to be high on the agenda. | Development issues - including food security, health and gender concerns - are expected to be high on the agenda. |
Mrs Clinton's trip comes less than a month after US President Barack Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, travelled to Ghana. | |
Early trip | |
US officials were keen to emphasise that Mrs Clinton's trip is the earliest trip by a secretary of state to Africa of any administration. | |
Her trip combines visits to three African powers - Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa - to bolster ties, and three post-conflict states - Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia - to show US support. | |
AFRICAN TOUR KenyaSouth AfricaNigeriaAngolaLiberiaDemocratic Republic of CongoCape Verde | AFRICAN TOUR KenyaSouth AfricaNigeriaAngolaLiberiaDemocratic Republic of CongoCape Verde |
Mrs Clinton will end her tour with a visit to US ally, Cape Verde. | |
Ahead of her arrival on Tuesday, the US embassy in Nairobi issued a statement scolding Kenya for its decision not to set up a local court to seek justice for the victims of the country's post-poll clashes. | |
At least 1,300 people died during clashes following the disputed December 2007 election. | |
"The US is deeply concerned by the coalition government's decision that appears to indicate it will not pursue establishment of an independent Special Tribunal to hold accountable perpetrators of post-election violence," the US government said in the statement. | |
Meanwhile, Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed said the meeting with Mrs Clinton in Kenya would be "a golden chance for the Somali people and government". | |
"It signals how the American government, the Obama administration and the international community are willing to support Somalia this time," he said, referring to earlier failed peacekeeping missions to the country. | "It signals how the American government, the Obama administration and the international community are willing to support Somalia this time," he said, referring to earlier failed peacekeeping missions to the country. |
One of Mrs Clinton's first engagements will be addressing a forum of around 40 African states which enjoy trade preferences with the US on the condition they uphold free elections and markets. |