U.S. Ambassador Mike Hammer Will Serve as U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
WASHINGTON DC – Ambassador Michael “Mike” Hammer is the current U.S. ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The veteran diplomat has been selected to succeed Ambassador David Satterfield as U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, the Department of State announced this week. As Ambassador Satterfield prepares to step down from the role, Hammer is set to take on the challenging post for the troubled Horn of Africa region. Satterfield will step down from his role before summer after less than seven months on the job. Satterfield had replaced Jeffrey Feltman as the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa. Feltman was initially set to take on his diplomatic role for less than a year, according to the Department of State. “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,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in announcing Feltman’s departure in January 2022.
“I am grateful to Ambassador Satterfield for the experience and determination he brought to the role, and I look forward to the energy and vision that Ambassador Hammer will now lend to our efforts in the Horn of Africa. His appointment underscores our abiding commitment to diplomatic efforts in the region, most urgently in support of an inclusive political process towards peace, common security, and prosperity for all people in Ethiopia. This Administration remains firmly focused on a cessation of hostilities, unhindered humanitarian access, transparent investigations into violations and human rights abuses by all actors, and a negotiated resolution to the conflict.”
-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in statement June 1, 2022
U.S. Ambassador to DR Congo Mike Hammer, signing a letter of agreement with Vice Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Security, and Customary Affairs, Gilbert Kankonde, that will provide an additional $10 million in assistance to enhancing security and fighting corruption in Kinshasha Sept. 26, 2019. (Credit: cd.usembassy.gov)
Ambassador Hammer is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service class of Minister-Counselor. He most recently served as U.S. ambassador to Chile from 2014-2016. He began his diplomatic career in 1988. Prior to his appointment in Chile, Ambassador Hammer served as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs from March 2012 to August 2013. He also served as Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs. Ambassador Hammer earned a Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He also earned Master’s degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and from the National War College at the National Defense University. Ambassador Hammer grew up in Latin America, living in Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil. He is fluent in Spanish and speaks French and Icelandic
Ambassador David M. Satterfield, U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa (Credit: tr.usembassy.gov)
Many are questioning the commitment of the U.S. to the Horn of Africa as two of its Envoys have departed during the past year alone while the region remains a hot-bed of political instability and military conflict.
Ethiopia has been embroiled in a year-long bloody conflict that reportedly has killed thousands of people, displaced millions, and created starvation for hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians. Sudan, which borders Ethiopia, is also in chaos with the resignation of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Neighboring Somalia has been wracked by civil war since 1991, and terror organization Al-Shabab continues to conduct attacks in the country. In February, China appointed senior diplomat Xue Bing to a newly created post of special envoy for the Horn of Africa.
Ambassador Satterfield was the former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey. Ambassador Satterfield was confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to Turkey on June 27, 2019.
Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe) President Biden appointed former UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman as the new U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Apr. 23, 2021.
Ambassador Feltman Continues Serving in State Department, Working with Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
Molly Catherine Phee, a career diplomat, is President Biden’s U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. (Credit USIP.org)
Ambassador Feltman continues to serve the State Department in an advisory capacity, working closely with Secretary of State Blinken and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee. “We are fortunate to be able to rely on these two extraordinary diplomats in support of U.S. diplomacy amidst the regional challenges and opportunities we face,” Blinken said recently.
