Blinken, in Kenya, seeks to cool regional crises

By MATTHEW LEE
AP Diplomatic Writer

NAIROBI (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has opened his first official visit to Africa with an appeal for the preservation of democracy in politically and ethnically fractured societies. Amid worsening crises in Ethiopia and Sudan, Blinken began a three-nation African tour in Kenya on Wednesday. In meetings with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and other top officials, Blinken Kenya’s role in the region as an example. In comments to civic leaders, he spoke about the importance of combatting “democratic recession” around the world. Kenya faces its own test of stability in a presidential election next year.