Blinken makes case for democracy at start of sub-Saharan Africa tour

Secretary of state tells reporters in South Africa that US not trying to outdo anyone' amid growing influence of Russia and China

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, has appealed to governments, communities and peoples" across Africa to embrace Washington's vision of democracy, openness and economic partnership in the first major speech of three-nation tour of sub-Saharan Africa.

Blinken was speaking in South Africa on the first stop of his tour, which will include the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.