Nigeria’s Buhari Visits US for Talks

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday begins a four-day visit to Washington, where he will hold talks with U.S. President Barack Obama.

The threat posed by Islamist extremist group Boko Haram is expected to top the agenda when Obama welcomes the Nigerian leader to the White House on Monday. The U.S. is seeking to expand assistance to Nigeria in fighting the militants, who have intensified their attacks since Buhari took office in May.

The two leaders will also likely discuss proposed political and economic reforms in Nigeria aimed at ending widespread corruption.

This is Buhari’s first visit to Washington since winning the presidential election in March and assuming office in a rare peaceful transfer of power in Nigeria.

Buahri will have breakfast with Vice President Joe Biden on Monday and later meet with West African diplomats, World Bank executives, and members of the U.S. Congress. He is scheduled to hold a town hall meeting with Nigerians on Tuesday.

Both the U.S. and Nigeria appear eager to improve relations after years of strained ties under President Goodluck Jonathan. Nigerian officials turned down some of the assistance the U.S. offered to combat Boko Haram, even after the militant group sparked international outrage with the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls in May 2014.

VOA

UM– USEKE.RW