Angola received a visit from the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clinton traveled to Angola on August 9 to meet with Angolan officials to try and secure opportunities for US firms in Africa’s sometime number one producer.
While US officials dismiss Clinton’s visit to Africa was based on concerns over China’s growing status on the continent, the Asian country has knocked the US off the number one spot as Africa’s number one trade partner.
“The mention of our colleagues from Asia is a Cold War paradigm, not a reflection of where we are today,” an official was quoted in a Reuters report as saying.
Clinton’s trip to Angola included a meeting with Angola’s Minister of Petroleum, Jose Maria De Vasconselhos. Making nice with Angola on petroleum matters is only one topic the Secretary of State will cover on her visit. Clinton also plans to focus on food security issues in an attempt to get the African country to diversify it economy away from oil.
Clinton’s stop in Angola is part of a seven-country tour of the African continent, Clinton’s longest trip since assuming the post of Secretary of State. The African excursion was launched on August 3 with a stop in Kenya and South Africa before landing on the shores of Angola. Other countries to receive a visit by Clinton include Nigeria, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cape Verde.