U.S. Ambassador to the African Union, Cindy L. Courville, Presents Copy of Her Credentials to African Union Chairperson Alpha O. Konare

December 22, 2006
No. 50/06

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) -- The newly appointed United States Ambassador to the African Union, Cindy L. Courville, presented a copy of her credentials to African Union Chairperson Alpha O. Konare on the morning of Friday December 22.

Ambassador Courville, formerly Special Assistant to U.S. President George W. Bush and Senior Director for Africa at the National Security Council, is a noted African expert, who has three decades of experience in research, study and involvement in African life and government.

Ambassador Courville, the first Ambassador from a non-African country accredited solely to the African Union, told AU Chairperson Konare that her appointment comes at an historic moment for Africa and the United States. 

The African Union has now established itself as a robust successor to the Organization of African Unity, with its Commission embarking on initiatives to improve the health, safety, security, livelihood and freedom of the peoples of Africa.  She likened the emergence of the African Union on the world stage as akin to that of the transformation of the League of Nations into the United Nations.

Ambassador Courville told Chairperson Konare that the United States wants to be a full partner with the African Union and looks forward to working with the member nations.

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