The U.S. First Lady Wednesday made the first stop of her five-day trip to the continent in Namibia where she addressed reporters and described the southwest African nation as a vibrant democracy.
“We wanted to come because you know this is a young democracy, and we want to support democracies around the world,” said Jill Biden.
Biden added that she met with Namibia’s First Lady Monica Geingos in Washington during December’s U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit where they became good friends.
“We met each other in December and we’re just continuing the relationship, Monica and I, I think it’s safe to say that we became good friends instantly,” she said.
Namibia’s first lady echoed her counterpart’s excitement.
“There’s a lot in Namibia that we’d really like to show Dr. Biden. I know it’s her first visit to Namibia. I know it’s the first time an incumbent American first lady has come to the country, and I think what she talked about is true. It is a very vibrant democracy” said Geingos.
“We’ve got a very large youth population, who drives that democracy, very energetic and fully enabled by our constitutional values but also by the personal values of our, of our leadership. He may not look it but he’s really the ultimate democrat,” she added.
Vitalio Angula, a journalist based in Namibia’s capital, Windhoek said Biden’s visit focuses on empowering women and children.
“She will be visiting Katutura, which is a township in Windhoek where the majority of the low-income earners live,” said Angula, in reference to the U.S. first lady’s agenda for Thursday.
“She will be talking to young girls in terms of programs for women’s empowerment, access to health care and access to basic goods and social services such as water and electricity,” he added.
VOA’s James Butty contributed to this report.
