Washington – Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe today issued the following statement on Secretary of State Pompeo’s decision to appoint J. Peter Pham, Vice President for Research and Regional Initiatives and Director of the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center, as United States Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa:
“The Atlantic Council is proud that Secretary of State Pompeo has selected one of our own, J. Peter Pham, to serve in the role of Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, to address the numerous challenges facing the region and represent the United States in negotiations on commercial and diplomatic issues.
For more than seven years, the Atlantic Council has been privileged to have Peter on our team. Peter has produced a great number of cutting edge projects and impressive written work focused on the African continent. It’s difficult to imagine anyone with deeper subject-matter expertise on the challenges faced by Africans or US ties with the countries of the African Great Lakes. No one has greater passion for the people and the opportunities that exist in those relationships. Few, if any, Americans enjoy greater trust and respect among our African partners.
We are delighted that Peter will maintain his role as Vice President for Research and Regional Initiatives and Director of our Africa Center. We look forward to supporting him as he takes on this important role at the Department of State.”
Members of the media are invited to direct questions to AF-Press@state.gov.