The White House said the visit will boost US partnerships in Africa and further mutual priorities for the continent.

Jill Biden is the fifth high-profile US official to visit the continent since the US-Africa leaders in Washington last December.

US Trade Secretary Janet Yellen, Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and US-Africa leaders' summit representative Johnnie Carson are the other senior officials who have visited the continent since the summit.

Analysts say the US’s renewed focus on Africa is an attempt to counter Chinese and Russian influence.