NAIROBI — Kenyan President William Ruto’s state visit to Washington this week – the first by an African president since 2008 – highlights deepening ties between Nairobi and Washington, even as Russian mercenaries, Chinese loans , wars and coups d’état set back American influence elsewhere on the continent. .
Chad and Niger, once staunch U.S. allies, both this year asked U.S. troops to leave their territories. Diplomatic heavyweight Ethiopia, once a key ally in Africa, is furious over U.S. allegations of gross human rights abuses and ethnic cleansing during its recent two-year civil war. Washington’s fervent support for Israel has also put it at odds with continental players such as South Africa and Egypt, which have sharply criticized the war in Gaza.
washingtonpost
