WASHINGTON, D.C.- Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson will be leaving today to join President Barack Obama on his trip to Africa. Thompson is the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security committee.
Thompson says there are some Homeland Security-related activities going on in Africa, specifically in the two countries they’ll be visiting; Kenya and Ethiopia.
“I thought it would be a good time to seee for myself, and talk to individuals about some security concerns they have,” Thompson said. “And see whether or not there are some opportunities for economic development that can somehow come back, more specifically to Mississippi.”
There are about ten members of Congress traveling with the President, as well as other White House Personnel.
“It’s an opportunity to see Heads of State and make some kind of relationship building in that part of the world,” Thompson added. “So I look forward to it.”
Thompson has made trips to Africa before, starting with when the U.S. Embassy in Kenya was bombed. He actually had an employee killed in that attack.
Here the FULL EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Congressman Bennie Thompson about his trip to Africa below:
