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USA: Africa

Volume 495: debated on Wednesday 8 July 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the US administration on its policy priorities for Africa. (284792)

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discusses African issues on a regular basis with his US counterpart, including most recently during his visit to Washington on 11-12 May 2009. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown met with senior US officials in Washington on 22 June 2009, and again at the African Union summit in Libya on 30 June-1 July 2009.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials also have regular dialogue with the US Administration on Africa, including at a senior level. These discussions have ranged across priority countries and issues, including on promoting human security and functioning government in Somalia, reform in Zimbabwe, action in Kenya to address issues underlying the violence following the 2007 elections, support for the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan, relations with Nigeria, and tackling drug trafficking in West Africa.