LAGOS, NIGERIA – JANUARY 25: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) and Nigerian president candidate Muhammadu Buhari (R) meet in Lagos, Nigeria on January 25, 2015. (Photo by Pool/US Foreign Ministry/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Nairobi, Kenya, on August 22 to meet with President Kenyatta to discuss regional security issues and counterterrorism cooperation before heading to Nigeria to meet President Muhammadu Buhari and the country’s most powerful Muslim, the Sultan of Sokoto, to discuss Boko Haram, the economy, religious tolerance and human rights abuses.
In a statement , the U. S. State Department said Secretary Kerry will also meet with Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed and other regional foreign ministers to discuss key challenges in East Africa, including the prospects for resumption of a political process in South Sudan and support to Somalia’s political transition and ongoing fight against al-Shabaab.
“He will have the opportunity to meet with participants of the Young African Leaders Initiative and the Mandela Washington Fellows programmes, ” the statement said.
Mr. Kerry wil thenl travel to Sokoto, and Abuja, Nigeria, on August 23-24 and meet with President Buhari to discuss counterterrorism efforts, the Nigerian economy, the fight against corruption, and human rights issues.
“In Sokoto, he will deliver a speech on the importance of resilient communities and religious tolerance in countering violent extremism. In Abuja, the Secretary will meet with a group of adolescent girls working to change community perceptions that devalue the role of girls in society. He will also meet with northern governors and religious leaders.
“On August 24-25, Secretary Kerry will travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for a series of meetings with senior Saudi leaders, his counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen. His discussion will focus on the ongoing conflict in Yemen and efforts to restore peace and stability. Additionally, the leaders will discuss the region’s most pressing challenges, including Syria and our global effort to counter Da’esh and violent extremism, ” the statement said.