Top U.S. Envoy for Africa, Linda Thomas-Greenfield heads to four African countries next week, including three in southern Africa, but Zimbabwe is not on her list, according to a statement from the U.S. State Department.
The statement, released Wednesday, reads as follows:
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield will travel to Uganda, Zambia, Botswana, and Malawi, June 23-July 1. In Uganda, June 23-24, she will have meetings with government officials, civil society representatives, and youth leaders.
On June 26, Assistant Secretary Thomas-Greenfield will begin a visit to Zambia, Botswana, and Malawi focused on the recognition and consolidation of democratic gains in the region. She will be accompanied in these three countries by Ambassador Alexander Laskaris, Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Engagement, United States Africa Command.
In each of these countries, Assistant Secretary Thomas-Greenfield will meet with government officials and civil society representatives. Additionally, in Zambia, she will meet with a group of Mandela Washington Fellows from President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative and will visit U.S.-trained Zambian peacekeeping troops who have served in the Central African Republic. In Botswana, she will launch a U.S. government innovation grant to a youth NGO focused on civic education. In Malawi, she will meet with Malawi Defense Forces representatives to discuss military cooperation.
Be sure to follow the Assistant Secretary on Twitter @StateAfrica for more updates throughout her trip.