The United States Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, is set to visit to Kenya, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia on Monday for a three-nation tour over insurgency.
According to the State Department, the diplomat is expected to arrive in Kenya on Monday for talks with Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, on regional security issues and counter-terrorism cooperation, as well as bilateral issues.
Kerry is also scheduled to speak with several of Kenyatta’s East African counterparts on the conflicts in South Sudan and Somalia, notably the fight against the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shabaab militants.
On Tuesday, Kerry will arrive in Nigeria, where he will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss “counter-terrorism efforts, the Nigerian economy, the fight against corruption, and human rights issues.”
Washington is a key ally of Abuja in the fight against Boko Haram rebels, but has regularly challenged the country and its armed forces on their civilian rights record during crackdowns against the Islamist militants.
Kerry will also travel to Sokoto in northern Nigeria to deliver a speech on “The importance of resilient communities and religious tolerance in countering violent extremism,” the department’s spokesperson said.
