U.S. officials say Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit Africa next week on a trip aimed at highlighting the Obama administration's commitment to making Africa a priority in U.S. foreign policy.
The State Department says Clinton will begin her seven-nation trip August 5, when she attends the U.S.-Sub Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. The forum is designed to help increase trade between the U.S. and African countries.
During her visit to Kenya, she will also meet with the president of Somalia's transitional government, Sheikh Sharif Amed.
Clinton will also visit South Africa, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Liberia and Cape Verde.
Clinton's visit takes place less than a month after President Barack Obama visited Ghana.
The State Department says this is the earliest in any administration that both the president and secretary of state have traveled to Africa.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
