US confirms top Africa post

The US Senate has confirmed veteran naval officer Frank Garcia as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, ending a vacancy in Washington’s top Africa-focused diplomatic post that lasted more than a year, reports Al Jazeera. The role is the most senior US diplomatic position in Africa, overseeing Washington’s foreign policy and managing relations with all 54 African states. Garcia, a former US Navy officer, spent approximately 15 years working with the House Intelligence Committee, focusing on African affairs and taking part in multiple visits to the continent alongside congressional delegations. Between 2016 and 2021, he headed Via Stelle, a defence and intelligence consultancy, according to The Africa Report. However, his profile has drawn scrutiny in some circles, with Nigerian newspaper The Whistler describing him as largely unknown among African policy and academic communities, noting that he has no significant published work on African affairs. His appointment fills a longstanding gap in one of Washington’s most strategically important diplomatic roles in Africa, at a time of growing global competition for influence across the continent. During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Garcia said US policy in Africa had for too long prioritised aid and dependency, arguing that past commitments were often open-ended and ‘focused on spreading divisive ideologies’. He said the administration, working through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is shifting US engagement towards ‘trade and investment for mutual benefit’. Garcia pointed to the Lobito Corridor as an example of the new direction. He described the project as a model linking job creation, regional integration, and expanded commercial ties. He also said all US spending, including humanitarian and health assistance, would be assessed through the lens of its contribution to national security and economic interests.