Blinken's first Africa trip follows the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, where poorer nations called on wealthy governments to do more to help them combat climate change. Trump dismissed some African nations as "shitholes" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-immigration-reaction-idUSKBN1F11VC, left key diplomatic posts to Africa empty https://www.reuters.com/article/cnews-us-usa-africa-idCAKCN1GJ0ND-OCATP and scoffed https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-climatechange-trump-idUSKCN1NV2IG at climate change science. The mandate of the AU force is up for renewal next month and the United States is a key donor. The two are expected to discuss possible security assistance from the United States, a source in the Nigerian presidency told Reuters. In July, Nigeria received its first six A-29 Super Tucano planes, four years after the United States agreed to sell the light attack aircraft to fight insurgents.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 17, 2021 01:52 UTC