The Biden administration intends to consult with African leaders on the diplomatic response to the Russian offensive in Ukraine and to work to mitigate the economic effects of the conflict on the continent, two American diplomats said Wednesday in Dakar.
“We seek a strong African response to Russian aggression and we welcome the opportunity to partner with Senegal and other African (countries) on the response to Russian aggression, but also on ways to deal with the global implications” of the conflict, US Ambassador to the African Union Jessica Lapenn told reporters.
Ms. Lapenn and Akunna Cook, a State Department official for African affairs, were for consultations in Senegal, whose head of state, Macky Sall, holds the rotating presidency of the African Union. The two diplomats stressed the importance of this presidency and the cooperation between the United States and African countries on post-Covid economic recovery, access to vaccines, recent coups across the continent or the security.
