Clinton to make first visit to South Sudan

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will this week make her first visit to South Sudan as part of a six-country tour of Africa. Clinton sets off Tuesday on the 11-day trip, which is intended to emphasize US efforts to strengthen democracy, encourage economic growth and further peace and security in Africa, Victoria Nuland, a State Department spokeswoman, said in a statement Monday. Clinton heads first to Senegal before traveling on to the world’s newest nation on a trip which will also take in Uganda, Kenya, Malawi and South Africa, Nuland added. While in South Sudan, Clinton will meet President Salva Kiir in order to “reaffirm US support and to encourage progress in negotiations with Sudan to reach agreement on issues related to security, oil and citizenship,” Nuland said.