US Secretary of State Maleleine Albright is due to begin a 10-day visit of six African nations on 17 October that will focus on ending conflicts, promoting democracy and supporting economic reforms, the State Department announced on Friday.
In West Africa, she is to visit Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mali and Nigeria. State Department spokesman James Rubin described Mali as "one of Africa's most promising democracies". Nigeria, he added, was "one of Africa's most import nations", whose transition from military rule to democracy "has the
potential to make it an anchor for democracy and economic growth across the continent".
This will be Albright's third visit to Africa since becoming secretary of state. On this visit, she will meet with young people, women's organisations and civil society groups involved in promoting peace, democracy and economic reforms. Outside West Africa, she will visit Kenya and Tanzania.
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