Donald Trump has insisted he “deeply respects” African people as his team seeks to repair damage caused by claims he used vulgar language to describe foreign countries.
The US President sent a letter to African leaders after reportedly branding some countries “s***holes”.
His letter, which comes as leaders gather for an African Union summit in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, says that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make an “extended visit” to the continent in March.
US diplomats have been working for days to address shock and condemnation after President Trump's reported vulgar remarks about African nations.
President Trump has denied using the word “s***hole” to describe foreign countries, and insisted in the letter that he respects the people of Africa.
The president met Rwanda's leader and new African Union chair Paul Kagame on Friday at the World Economic Forum, calling Mr Kagame a "friend".
The 55-nation continental body's summit is expected to respond to Mr Trump's alleged comment.
An AU spokeswoman has said the organisation was "frankly alarmed" by the comments, and a number of African nations have spoken out or summoned US diplomats to explain.
Mr Trump's letter says the US "profoundly respects" the partnerships and values shared by the US and Africans, and that the president's commitment to strong relationships with African nations is "firm".
The letter offers Mr Trump's "deepest compliments" to the African leaders as they gather.
It notes that US soldiers are "fighting side by side" against extremism on the continent and that the US is working to increase "free, fair and reciprocal trade" with African countries and partnering to "safeguard legal immigration".
The letter gives no details on Mr Tillerson's upcoming visit.
