I am pleased to chair this hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for nominees to serve as Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda, Republic of Benin, and Kingdom of Swaziland. As always, I welcome my good friend and Ranking Member, Senator Isakson, as well as other members of the Foreign Relations Committee. I would also like to welcome our distinguished nominees: Ambassador Scott DeLisi, the nominee for Uganda, Makila James, the nominee for Swaziland, and Michael Raynor, the nominee for Benin. These nominees bring to the table a vast array of experience, and I look forward to hearing their vision for advancing U.S. interests and policy priorities in Africa.
Today, we will speak about three important countries in three very different regions. Uganda, a country I visited more than 25 years ago, is a valued strategic partner of the United States. It is playing a critical role in regional efforts targeting Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army in close coordination with recently-deployed U.S. military advisors in central Africa. Uganda is also a leading contributor to the AMISOM peacekeeping mission in Somalia and has shown longstanding commitment to countering al-Shabaab and other destabilizing forces in the Horn of Africa.
The new U.S. Ambassador to Uganda will have the challenging job of continuing that important strategic partnership, while also urging Uganda to improve systems of governance and adopt democratic reforms. President Museveni has ruled for 26 years, and government security forces have, at times, taken a heavy-handed approach toward political opponents. A deeply troubling bill imposing harsh criminal penalties for homosexuality is currently making its way through the Ugandan Parliament. New discoveries of oil promise to bring new revenue and economic opportunities to Uganda, but also increase the importance and urgency of ensuring transparency and combating corruption.
Swaziland, a tiny country in the midst of South Africa, has a long record of stability and is a top exporter of textiles to the United States under AGOA. Its constitutional monarchy has created tension between the dominant royal family and pro-democracy opposition groups who want the right to form political parties and participate more directly in governance. Swaziland’s HIV/AIDS rate is the highest in the world, with more than a quarter of adults infected. Challenges for the new Ambassador will include working with the government to encourage political freedoms and democratic reform, while also continuing our health sector funding and partnership.
Benin, a country that both Senator Isakson and I visited last year, has made important progress on governance and has had two decades of peaceful and democratic transitions of power. With assistance from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Benin has upgraded and rehabilitated its port and it remains an important producer of cotton. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the important trade in used cars between the Port of Cotonou and Port of Wilmington, making Benin one of the biggest international trading partners for Delaware in Africa. Benin has the potential to be an even more diversified and important trading partner with the United States, and I hope that the new U.S. Ambassador will work with President Yayi and his government to increase transparency, combat corruption, and improve the ease of doing business.
All three of the nominees before us today have had long and distinguished careers with the State Department and bring a wealth of experience to these positions. Ambassador DeLisi has thirty years of experience in the Foreign Service. He is currently serving as Ambassador to Nepal, and previously served as Ambassador to Eritrea and Deputy Chief of Mission to Botswana. Ms. Makila James is also a Senior Foreign Service Officer, currently serving as the Office Director for Caribbean Affairs, having previously served as the Deputy Director in the Office of Southern African Affairs and as the Principal Officer at the Consulate General in Juba. Mr. Michael Raynor is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Bureau of African Affairs, where he oversees the support of U.S. policy goals for the Africa Bureau and its 53 overseas embassies, consulates, and offices. He has served primarily in Africa, including in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Guinea, Djibouti, and Congo (Brazzaville).
I look forward to hearing from them after turning to Senator Isakson for his opening remarks.
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