US Secretary of State to visit Nigeria, Kenya, Saudi Arabia

Pulse Staff 06:04 - 19 August 2016

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during a joint news conference with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay (not pictured) at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay city Metro Manila, Philippines July 27, 2016.

He would meet President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss cooperation on the fight against Boko Haram militants

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Kenya, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia next week for talks with senior government officials on regional issues, the State Department said on Thursday.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said the visit to Kenya would focus on South Sudan's peace process and Somalia's political transition.

In Nigeria, he would meet President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss cooperation on the fight against Boko Haram militants, the Nigerian economy and human rights issues, the spokesman said.

In Saudi Arabia, Kerry would meet senior Saudi leaders as well as counterparts from Gulf Arab states to discuss the conflict in Yemen, Kirby said.