First Lady Jill Biden arrives in Namibia for Africa tour

U.S. first lady Jill Biden, the wife of President Joe Biden has landed in Namibia’s capital on Wednesday afternoon for a visit focused on women’s and youth empowerment and the impacts of droughts in the region.

Jill Biden’s trip will split between Namibia and Kenya to also highlighting food insecurity in the Horn of Africa caused by a devastating drought and Russia’s war in Ukraine among other factors.

In Kenya, Biden will “look at the impacts of drought on families and communities hardest hit,” senior administration officials said.

However, in Namibia, she will focus on “role of young people in continuing to shape their democracy and advance health cooperation,” the officials added.

Jill Biden’s visit is seen within the administration’s effort to counter-balance the influence of China and Russia in the region and is expected to be followed by other high-level visits.

South Africa hosting a joint naval exercise with Russia and China was seen as an alarming movement; despite confirmations from the African side that it is a routinely move.