Latest news with #BureauofAfricanAffairs
TimesLIVE
18 hours ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Top Africa official in US government to leave in July, says state department
The US state department's top official for Africa, Troy Fitrell, will retire in mid-July, a department spokesperson said on Thursday, adding the Africa bureau's No 2, Jonathan Pratt, will step into the role. The change in leadership at the state department's Africa bureau will come as President Donald Trump's administration is seeking to shift its strategy in the region to focus on trade rather than assistance. "After a long and distinguished career, the department of state's Bureau of African Affairs senior bureau official ambassador Troy Fitrell is retiring in mid-July as planned," the department spokesperson said. "The Bureau of African Affairs principal deputy assistant secretary Jonathan Pratt will step into the senior bureau official role after ambassador Fitrell's departure." Troy Fitrell, previously US ambassador to Guinea, has been running the Bureau of African Affairs in the absence of an officially nominated assistant secretary of state under Trump. The senior bureau official position serves in an acting capacity when an assistant secretary, a Senate-confirmed position, is yet to be named.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's top diplomat in Africa leaving State Department
President Trump's top diplomat in Africa, Troy Fitrell, will retire from the State Department next month, and Jonathan Pratt, the Bureau of African Affairs deputy assistant secretary, will take his place. 'After a long and distinguished career, the Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs Senior Bureau Official Ambassador Troy Fitrell is retiring in mid-July as planned,' a State Department spokesperson told The Hill in an emailed statement on Thursday. 'The Bureau of African Affairs Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jonathan Pratt will step into the Senior Bureau Official role after Ambassador Fitrell's departure,' the spokesperson added. Fitrell, a foreign service official, previously worked as the United States ambassador to Guinea. He has served in various State Department posts across Africa, including serving as the director of the Office of Western African Affairs and Southern African Affairs. He was also the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassies in Ethiopia and Mauritius. Fitrell has been the head of the State Department's African bureau since the assistant secretary, a Senate-confirmed position, has not yet been chosen. Fitrell, who has been a diplomat for more than three decades, previously said that the Trump administration is changing the U.S. approach to Africa from 'one rooted primarily in development assistance to a strategy that prioritizes robust commercial engagement.' The administration sees trade as a way to counter Chinese and Russian influence on the continent. Semafor first reported on Fitrell's forthcoming exit. Pratt, who will succeed Fitrell, previously served as the U.S. ambassador to Djibouti from 2021 to 2023. He also had other assignments within the State Department, working in places such as Pakistan, Sudan and Angola. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump's top diplomat in Africa leaving State Department
President Trump's top diplomat in Africa, Troy Fitrell, will retire from the State Department next month and Jonathan Pratt, the African Affairs Bureau deputy assistant secretary, will take his place. 'After a long and distinguished career, the Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs Senior Bureau Official Ambassador Troy Fitrell is retiring in mid-July as planned,' a State Department spokesperson told The Hill in an emailed statement on Thursday. 'The Bureau of African Affairs Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jonathan Pratt will step into the Senior Bureau Official role after Ambassador Fitrell's departure,' the spokesperson added. Fitrell, a foreign service official, previously worked as the United States ambassador to Guinea. He has served in various State Department posts across Africa, including serving as the director of the Office of Western African Affairs and Southern African Affairs. He was also the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassies in Ethiopia and Mauritius. Fitrell has been the head of the State Department's African bureau since the assistant secretary, a Senate-confirmed position, has not yet been revealed. Fitrell, who has been a diplomat for over three decades, has previously said that the Trump administration is changing the U.S. approach to Africa from 'one rooted primarily in development assistance to a strategy that prioritizes robust commercial engagement.' The administration sees trade as a way to counter the Chinese and Russian influence on the continent. Semafor first reported on Fitrell's forthcoming exit. Pratt, who will succeed Fitrell, previously served as the U.S. ambassador to Djibouti from 2021 to 2023. He also had other assignments within the State Department, working in Pakistan, Congo, Sudan and Angola.
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Head of Trump's U.S.-Africa policy at the State Department set to step down
A senior U.S. official overseeing Africa policy at the State Department is expected to step down in mid-July, marking another significant transition in President Donald Trump's foreign policy team. Troy Fitrell, leading the Bureau of African Affairs, plans to step down on July 15. His tenure involved advancing U.S. diplomatic and commercial ties with Africa. The White House has not yet announced plans for a permanent replacement post-departure. Troy Fitrell, who has been leading the Bureau of African Affairs in an acting capacity, played a central role in managing U.S. diplomatic, security, and economic relations with countries across the African continent during a period of rising global competition and shifting alliances. Although it was not immediately clear why he is leaving, Troy Fitrell will leave his post on July 15, according to Reuters reports that cited sources with direct knowledge of the decision. The reports added that Troy Fitrell shared his plans to leave by that date over an email. Recently, he had tasked U.S. ambassadors on the continent to find commercial opportunities for U.S. companies. The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Troy Fitrell also did not respond to a request for comment, according to the reports. The departure comes amid a prolonged vacancy at the assistant secretary level, with no confirmed nominee in place more than a year into Trump's current term. However, it is important to note that, apart from Troy Fitrell's office at the Bureau of African Affairs, the office of President Trump's adviser on Africa affairs, led by Massad Boulos, also plays a largely informal but visible role as a diplomatic envoy focused on promoting peace and advancing U.S. private-sector investment in Africa. Troy Fitrell's Africa strategy Just a month before his expected resignation, Troy Fitrell laid out a bold and business-focused vision for U.S.-Africa relations under the Trump administration, emphasizing a pivot from aid-driven engagement to private sector-led trade and investment. During the launch of the Bureau of African Affairs' Commercial Diplomacy Strategy in Côte d'Ivoire last month, Troy Fitrell outlined a six-point plan to strengthen U.S.-Africa commercial ties. The strategy includes making commercial diplomacy a central pillar of U.S. engagement, advancing market reforms and infrastructure projects in priority African countries, and expanding commercial diplomacy trips. It also seeks to better connect U.S. companies and capital to African opportunities while reforming U.S. trade and finance tools to compete more effectively on the global stage. Under the current administration, the U.S. has sought to recalibrate its Africa policy by prioritizing counterterrorism cooperation, advancing trade initiatives such as Prosper Africa, and responding to strategic competition from global rivals.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Top Africa official in US government to leave in July, State Dept says
Top Africa official in US government to leave in July, State Dept says The U.S. State Department's top official for Africa, Troy Fitrell, will retire in mid-July, a State Department spokesperson said on Thursday, adding the Africa bureau's number two, Jonathan Pratt, will step into the role. The change in leadership at the State Department's Africa bureau will come as President Donald Trump's administration is seeking to shift its strategy in the region to focus on trade rather than assistance. "After a long and distinguished career, the Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs Senior Bureau Official Ambassador Troy Fitrell is retiring in mid-July as planned," the State Department spokesperson said. "The Bureau of African Affairs Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jonathan Pratt will step into the senior bureau official role after Ambassador Fitrell's departure." Troy Fitrell, previously U.S. Ambassador to Guinea, has been running the Bureau of African Affairs in the absence of an officially nominated assistant secretary of State under Trump. The senior bureau official position serves in an acting capacity when an assistant secretary, a Senate-confirmed position, is yet to be named. Pratt, who previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti from 2021-2023, will also bring experience in the region to the role. He also previously held assignments in Republic of the Congo, Sudan and Angola, among other postings, according to the State Department website. Fitrell will leave his post on July 15, one source with direct knowledge of the decision told Reuters earlier on Thursday. Fitrell shared his plans to leave by that date over an email, a second source said. Reuters did not review the email. Fitrell did not respond to a request for comment. He told reporters last month he had tasked U.S. ambassadors on the continent to find commercial opportunities for U.S. companies, as the Trump administration has focused on trade with the region. The U.S. is keen to counter both Chinese and Russian influence on the continent, particularly over minerals and trade. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
