Washington  - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will emphasize building a sustainable economy in Africa when she begins a seven-nation visit to the continent next week, a US official said.

Clinton's first stop will be in Kenya on Wednesday to attend a trade and economic forum for sub-Sahara countries before heading to South Africa, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Liberia, and Cape Verde.

"The secretary will underline America's commitment to partner with governments, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations and private citizens to build societies where each individual can realize their full potential," Johnnie Carson, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs, told reporters on Thursday.

Carson said that President Barack Obama's visit to Ghana earlier this month and Clinton's trip relatively soon in the new administration's tenure underscore the importance Washington is placing on relations with Africa and improving life on the continent.

"This is the earliest trip the secretary of state and the president to Africa of any previous administration," Carson said.

On Clinton's agenda will be promoting sustainable governance and economic policy, strengthening public health and education and assisting in ending and preventing conflicts.

In Nairobi, she will meet with Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, the president of the transitional government of Somalia, where Islamist rebels are waging a fierce fight for control of the country. The United States in June rushed weapons to help the government fend off the mounting insurgency.

The United States fears an Islamist government would expose Somalia as a safe haven for terrorists. US intelligence officials have already expressed concerns over the growing presence of terrorists in the Horn of Africa nation. In areas controlled by the al-Shabaab militants, strict Islamic code has been enacted.

Somalia has also served as a base for pirates responsible for commandeering dozens of cargo ships in the last year and demanding ransoms for the return of the crews.

"The problems in southern Somalia have started to bleed regionally and internationally," Carson said.

The United States backs the transitional government in Mogadishu because it has the "best possible chance for restoring stability to southern Somalia."

An estimated 18,000 civilians have been killed in violence in Somalia since early 2007, while more than 1 million have fled. The country has been embroiled in chaos since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

Clinton will also urge Kenya to work on its constitution to help stabilize the government and avoid the violence that erupted in post election turmoil in 2007, Carson said.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been devastated by civil war and still is the site of sporadic fighting, particularly in the eastern part of the country. Carson said she will push the DRC government to take steps to halt war crimes against women. Clinton intends to meet with victims of the violence, he added.

"The secretary is deeply concerned about the gender-based violence which is occurring in the eastern Congo," he said. "We'll underscore America's commitment to try to end this." (dpa0