Thursday, June 26, 2014
Floor Speech: Senator Coons urges colleagues to confirm ambassadors to African nations
As Delivered on the Senate Floor
Mr. President, when we send American ambassadors to nearly every country around the world, we are able to strengthen democracy and protect our national security. Ambassadors are voices for American values and the interests we share with other nations. Simply put, they are critical to promoting our foreign policy, our economic and security interests, and our leadership in the world.
Yet when – because of partisan politics and gridlock at home – we fail to confirm ambassadors, we send a dangerous message about our lack of interest in the world and our lack of interest in diplomacy.
I have the privilege of chairing the African Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Through my work as Chair, as well as time I spent earlier in my life in Africa, I have seen up close both the incredible opportunities in the continent of Africa as well as the stark challenges.
For instance, today, this decade, seven of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa. Yet right now one in five American embassies of the 54 countries on that continent lacks a confirmed ambassador.
Africa faces serious security challenges. Boko Haram in Nigeria, which has recently kidnapped hundreds of girls and burned down churches and schools, is just one example. Yet as the countries bordering that troubled area of Nigeria try to coordinate a response to ensure that conflict doesn't spill over borders, we lack confirmed ambassadors in the adjacent nations of Niger and Cameroon.
In Namibia, where we also don't have a confirmed ambassador, the United States is dedicating $50 million to combat HIV and AIDS. We need an ambassador to oversee those funds and make sure they are appropriately used.
I will briefly review some of the numbers and facts. Our nominees to the countries of Namibia, Cameroon, and Niger have waited for a vote for 330 days – almost a year. Our nominee to Sierra Leone has waited 352 days, our nominee to Mauritania has waited 289 days, and our nominee to Gabon has waited 287 days.
In the long absence of ambassadors, professional career Foreign Service Officers, capable and competent Deputy Chiefs of Mission assume this role on an interim basis. I am deeply concerned that with the August turnover for Foreign Service Officers quickly approaching, many of our embassies will also be left without a DCM at the helm.
This is inexcusable. It hurts our economy, our national security, and our leadership to leave these posts unfilled and the ambassadorial nominees unconfirmed for so long.
I have great hope for Africa's future. Across the continent there are emerging democracies, growing economies, and although there are some security challenges, I am optimistic we can meet them in partnership with Africa's leaders.
When we fail to send career public servants to serve as our ambassadors, we send the message that we are not serious about these challenges and are not willing to invest in these partnerships.
I urge my colleagues to work together across the aisle to devote ourselves to getting our ambassadorial nominees to Africa confirmed. This transcends partisanship, and it is a task we should turn to promptly.