After France, the United States wants to create a “genuine partnership” with Africa to counter Russia

The United States wants a "

" with Africa, declared its American Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday August 8, while visiting Pretoria, while denying himself of wanting to "

" the influence of other world powers on the continent.

“

,” Antony Blinken told a press briefing alongside his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor.

Arrived the day before in South Africa, the first stage of an African tour which should then take him to Kinshasa and Kigali until Thursday, Antony Blinken was to develop his strategic vision for the continent in the afternoon, during a speech at the University of Pretoria.

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This visit aims to try to bring South African diplomacy closer to the Western camp and thwart Russian influence on the continent, several experts have argued.

She shortly follows the visit to Africa at the end of July by her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, who has passed through the Congo, Uganda, Egypt and Ethiopia.

But on Monday, Antony Blinken asserted that Washington does not see the region as the “

.”

“

,” he insisted.

"

."