Butterfield joins congressional delegation to Africa
Rep. G.K. Butterfield joined a half dozen U.S. House colleagues who left the country on Sunday in a congressional designation to four African countries.
The seven members of Congress are scheduled to visit Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire and Tanzania, Butterfield's congressional office announced in a news release.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., is leading the delegation.
Butterfield, a Wilson Democrat representing North Carolina's 1st Congresssional District, is on the trip along with Reps. Ami Bera, D-Calif.; Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio; Brenda Lawrence, D-Mich.; and Troy Carter, D-La.
The delegation will meet with Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio, his cabinet and other officials in his administration as well as Sierra Leonean opposition leaders, members of civil society and nongovernmental organizations, according to the release. Representatives will tour the former slave trading port of Bunce Island and plan to deliver public remarks.
In Liberia, Butterfield's office said the delegation will meet with President George Weah and government officials, participate in a roundtable discussion on good governance and accountability and commemorate Liberia's bicentennial anniversary.
In Tanzania, the delegation will meet with Prime Minister Kaasim Majaliwa,Young African Leaders Initiative alumni and conservation officials and partners.
Concluding the trip in Cote d'Ivoire, the delegation will meet with President Alassane Ouattara, Prime Minister Patrick Achi and African Development Bank President Akinwumi A. Adesina.
Butterfield's office said the House members will also observe U.S. Africa Command's annual Flintlock exercise, an African-led, combined military and law enforcement exercise intended to strengthen key partner-nation forces throughout Africa in partnership with international special operations forces.
This article was originally published by Restoration News Media on February 21, 2022.