"This first visit by Minister Dion to sub-Saharan Africa will highlight the importance Canada attaches to strengthening bilateral relations with African partners," the release on Friday explained.
In Nigeria, Dion will serve as co-chairman of a bilateral commission on governance and security, with a focus on counterterrorism and a humanitarian crisis in the country’s northeast, the release stated.
Regional security will top the agenda for meetings in Kenya with senior government officials, according to the release.
In Ethiopia, Dion will promote democratic and economic reform, the release added.
It also mentioned Canada’s support for the International Criminal Court, from which three other African nations recently announced their withdrawal, claiming the court has an anti-African bias in prosecutions.
