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African Diplomats Seminar: Senior Leaders’ Panel

Date: Friday, May 10, 2024 / Time: 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT

Center: Africa Center

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USIP’s annual African Diplomats’ Seminar aims to advance U.S.-African relationships and promote peace and development throughout the continent by offering African diplomats a deeper understanding of how the U.S. government works. Over three days, experts representing each section of the U.S. government provide in-depth information on the structures and priorities of U.S. government institutions and issue areas, including defense and security, commerce and trade, and peacebuilding strategies and practices.

On May 10, USIP hosted the final session of the third annual African Diplomats Seminar. In this closing session, senior U.S. government representatives and diplomats discussed how U.S. policy relates to and supports the U.S. approach to Africa in 2024. This discussion highlighted how the U.S. relationship with Africa and its nations has changed and how it might look in the coming years. Finally, the speakers shared their visions for U.S.-Africa engagement and how African diplomats can play critical roles in advancing their respective nations’ initiatives.

Continue the conversation on social media using the hashtag #AfricanDiplomatsSeminar2024.

Speakers

Ambassador Johnnie Carson, moderator 
Senior Advisor, U.S. Institute of Peace 

Ambassador Molly Phee
Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State 

Ambassador Hilda Suka-Mafudze
African Union Ambassador to the United States 

Maureen Farrell
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense 

Arun Venkataraman
Assistant Secretary for Global Markets and the U.S. and Foreign Trade Commercial Service, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce 

Rear Admiral Erin Osborne
Deputy Director for Africa and the Middle East, Joint Staff J5, U.S. Department of Defense

Joseph Sany, Ph.D.
Vice President, Africa Center, U.S. Institute of Peace 

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