President Biden says he will be visiting sub-Saharan Africa during his presidency, while addressing leaders during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.
“I’m grateful that all of you have made the journey to Washington for this summit, and I’m eager to visit your continent,” the president said Thursday. “I’m looking forward to seeing many of you in your home countries.”
He said several of the African leaders in Washington this week have invited him to their countries, and he joked about his travel there, quipping, “Be careful what you wish for, because I may show up.”
“All kidding aside, we’re all going to be seeing you and you’re going to see a lot of us, because we’re deadly earnest and serious about this endeavor," he said.
Biden has visited Europe and made a brief stop in Egypt during an Asia trip earlier this year, but an extended trip to Africa would be his first to the continent since becoming president.
Presidents George H.W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama all visited Africa during their tenures. Former President Trump did not, but he stopped international travel for the last 11 months of his presidency because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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