Ethiopian Crisis: US names new Special Envoy for Horn of Africa
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The US has named Ambassador David Satterfield as the new Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa.
He will take over from Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman when he ends his appointment, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday in a statement.
The statement when Ambassador Feltman took on this role in early 2021, the US had intended his appointment to be for less than a year.
"However, the ongoing instability in the Horn of Africa and the region’s interlinked political, security, and humanitarian challenges demand sustained focus by the United States," the statement said.
Mr. Blinken said Ambassador Satterfield’s decades of diplomatic experience and work amidst some of the world’s most challenging conflicts will be instrumental in the continued effort to promote a peaceful and prosperous Horn of Africa and to advance U.S. interests in this strategic region.
The statement said Ambassador Feltman will continue to serve the State Department in an advisory capacity, working closely with Mr. Blinken and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Feltman on Thursday met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed with whom he held "constructive, substantive discussions".
Mr. Ned Price, the Spokesperson of the State Department, told a media briefing in Washington that the discussions covered the importance of the bilateral relationship as well as broader regional issues.
Mr. Price said that any positive momentum from Ambassadror Feltman's discussions can be quickly realised.
"Broadly, we continue to call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and end human rights atrocities, unhindered humanitarian access, and a negotiated resolution to the conflict," he said.
-0- PANA MA 7Jan2022
