U.S. Africa chief launches second continent tour, heads to Zambia, Ethiopia and Kenya
Frank Garcia, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs, begins a second trip to Africa, stopping in Zambia, Ethiopia and Kenya and attending President Hakainde Hichilema’s inauguration in Lusaka.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia is on his second official African tour since taking office in June, traveling from Aug. 30 to Sept. 10. He will visit Zambia, Ethiopia and Kenya, with a key appearance at President Hakainde Hichilema’s Sept. 1 inauguration in Lusaka. The trip follows his inaugural journey to Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali and serves as a visible effort by the Trump administration to prioritize commercial diplomacy with African leaders.
Officials say the tour will test the feasibility of converting the administration’s “trade over aid” rhetoric into actual deals, especially in Zambia where tensions exist over U.S. health assistance and mining interests. Kenya is seeking to expand U.S. trade and investment, and the final leg is expected to take place in Nairobi at the US-East Africa trade forum. However, the ability to deliver results may be hampered by a diplomatic corps weakened by staffing cuts and vacancies.
Why it matters
The trip signals Washington’s attempt to shift African relations toward trade, affecting investment and aid dynamics across the region.
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