Clinton to visit 6 African nations

WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is heading for a six-nation African tour on Tuesday, the State Department announced on Monday.

In the trip from July 31 to August 10, the top US envoy will reiterate US commitments to strengthening democracy, spurring economic growth, advancing peace and security as well as promoting opportunity and development for all African citizens, the department said.

In July, the White House also set these commitments as four strategic objectives to help sub-Saharan regions.

In her first stop in Senegal, Clinton will meet with President Macky Sall and other political leaders, and deliver a speech "applauding the resilience of Senegal's democratic institutions" and highlighting bilateral partnership, the State Department said.

During her stay in South Sudan, a nation newly founded last year, the secretary will meet with President Salva Kiir Mayardit, reaffirm the US support for the country, and encourage its negotiations with Sudan on issues like security, oil and citizenship.

In Uganda, Clinton is scheduled to meet with President Yoweri Museveni to "encourage strengthening of democratic institutions and human rights," and to reaffirm the country as a US key partner in promoting regional security and countering the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group branded by Washington as a terrorist organization.

Clinton will also highlight the US support for the fight against HIV/AIDS while in Uganda.

In Kenya, she plans to meet President Mwai Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and other government officials to emphasize her endorsement for transparent, credible and non-violent national elections in 2013, the State Department said.

Clinton will meet with signatories to the Roadmap to End the Transition to underscore the US support for the political transition in Somalia.

Under the roadmap, Somalia should end the transitional period by August 20 and hold national elections this year.

In her visit to Malawi, Clinton is to meet with President Joyce Banda ?and talk about economic cooperation and political reform in the country.

In South Africa, she will visit former president Nelson Mandela, who had just celebrated his 94th birthday a few days ago, and participate in the US - South Africa Strategic Dialogue with a focus on the bilateral partnership and issues of mutual concern and shared challenges in Africa and in the world.

A US business delegation will go with Clinton, who has set foot on the African continent for several times since taking office in January 2009, according to the State Department.