"[200]

Africa
First Lady Rosalynn Carter, Tanzanian leader Julius Nyerere, and Carter, 1977
Carter with Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo on April 1, 1978
In an address to the African officials at the United Nations on October 4, 1977, Carter stated the U.S.'s interest to "see a strong, vigorous, free, and prosperous Africa with as much of the control of government as possible in the hands of the residents of your countries" and pointed to their unified efforts on "the problem of how to resolve the Rhodesian, Zimbabwe question."[201] At a news conference later that month, Carter outlined that the U.S. wanted to "work harmoniously with South Africa in dealing with the threats to peace in Namibia and in Zimbabwe in particular", as well as do away with racial issues such as apartheid, and for equal opportunities in other facets of society in the region.[202]
Carter visited Nigeria from March 31 to April 3, 1978, to improve relations;[203] the first U.S. president to do so.[204] He reiterated interest in convening a peace conference on Rhodesia that involved all parties and said the U.S. was moving as it could.