Photo courtesy of somalia.usvpp.gov
Department of State
Washington DC
September 5, 2013
Secretary Kerry hosted the swearing-in ceremony for the U.S.
Ambassador-designate to the Democratic Republic of the Congo James Swan.
Ambassador James Swan previously served as the United States Special
Representative for Somalia from August 2011 to 2013. The position is
responsible for developing U.S. policy recommendations on Somalia and
for coordinating all U.S. programs in Somalia. Current Somalia-related
programs of the U.S. Government totaled more than $238 million in Fiscal
Year 2011. These include major efforts respond to urgent humanitarian
needs, improve security, advance economic development, and foster better
governance.
Ambassador Swan has devoted most of his Foreign Service career to
Africa, and has focused especially on countries facing complex political
transitions in challenging security environments. As Ambassador to
Djibouti (2008-2011), he led a significant increase in the U.S.-Djibouti
security partnership, while also expanding assistance programs in the
health, education, and governance sectors.
Prior to his assignment to Djibouti, Ambassador Swan served as Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (2006-2008), with
broad responsibility for U.S. policies and programs in 23 central and
east African countries. Annual U.S. assistance to these countries
totaled more than $2.75 billion. During this period, he was centrally
involved in U.S. policy initiatives to address multiple regional crises,
including in Burundi, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya,
and Somalia. Previously, as director of analysis for Africa in the State
Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (2005-2006),
Ambassador Swan led a team of intelligence analysts who produced
assessments of significant developments throughout sub-Saharan Africa
for senior U.S. policy officials.
As Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa
(2001-2004), Ambassador Swan advanced negotiations aimed at withdrawal
of foreign forces and agreement on an internal political framework
leading to elections. As part of his long professional involvement with
the Congo, Ambassador Swan was also Zaire/Congo country officer in
Washington (1996-1998), serving as focal point during the rebellion that
led to the fall of Mobutu Sese Seko after 32 years in power and the
difficult first year of its successor regime. Ambassador Swan served as
Deputy Chief of Mission and for more than a year Charge d’Affaires in
Brazzaville, Republic of Congo (1998-2001) leading efforts to resume
diplomatic operations and mobilize the U.S. humanitarian response in the
aftermath of a civil conflict that displaced nearly a third of the
country’s population.
Earlier in his career, Ambassador Swan served as political section
chief in Cameroon (1992-1994), political officer in Nicaragua
(1990-1992), and consular officer in Haiti (1988-89). Before joining the
Foreign Service, he worked as a management analyst in the Office for
Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education.
Ambassador Swan holds a B.S. degree from Georgetown University’s
School of Foreign Service, an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University’s
School of Advanced International Studies, and a master’s in national
security studies from the National War College, where he was a 2005
distinguished graduate.
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