The United States has appointed politician Mike Hammer as Ambassador to the Horn of Africa on a major mission in the context of peace efforts in Ethiopia to succeed David Satterfield.

Hammer was recently appointed US Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he was respected but sometimes angered for speaking out about the country’s problems.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said, “I look forward to the energy and vision that Ambassador Hammer will bring to our efforts in the Horn of Africa” ​​and reaffirmed his “strong commitment to diplomatic efforts in the region, as well as our commitment to support an inclusive political process that contributes to achieving peace, security and shared prosperity for all in the region.” Ethiopia”.

Hammer will replace Satterfield, a senior diplomat and former ambassador to Turkey who became director of the Baker Public Policy Institute at Rice University. Satterfield took over in early January following the resignation of former envoy Jeffrey Feltman amid dissatisfaction with his performance in Ethiopia and Sudan, where the army cut off the democratic transition.