Latest news with #Fitrell
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
US envoy plays down Africa tariff, visa concerns, affirms Lobito commitment
The top US diplomat for Africa on Tuesday dismissed allegations of unfair US trade practices and said funding delays would not derail a key railway project connecting Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). AU officials on Monday questioned how Africa could deepen trade ties with the US under what they called 'abusive' tariff proposals and tightening visa conditions largely targeting travellers from Africa. 'There is no visitation ban,' ambassador Troy Fitrell said during a press conference at the US-Africa Business Summit in Luanda. He said US consulates continue issuing visas regularly, though some now come with shorter validity periods due to concerns over overstays. Several African business and political leaders have raised concerns about a sharp drop in visa approvals, particularly for travellers from West Africa, since late 2023. Washington's tariff plans have also added to cooling diplomatic ties with African countries, as some economies — including Lesotho and Madagascar — warned that even a baseline 10% levy could threaten critical exports such as apparel and minerals. But Fitrell said the proposed US import tariffs were not yet implemented and negotiations were ongoing to create a more reciprocal trading environment, including through the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
US envoy plays down Africa tariff, visa concerns, reaffirms Lobito rail commitment
LUANDA - The top U.S. diplomat for Africa on Tuesday dismissed allegations of unfair U.S. trade practices and said that funding delays would not derail a key railway project connecting Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. African Union officials on Monday questioned how Africa could deepen trade ties with the United States under what they called "abusive" tariff proposals and tightening visa conditions largely targeting travellers from Africa. "There is no visitation ban," Ambassador Troy Fitrell said during a press conference at the U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Luanda. He said that U.S. consulates continue issuing visas regularly, although some now come with shorter validity periods due to concerns over overstays. Several African business and political leaders have raised concerns about a sharp drop in visa approvals, particularly for travellers from West Africa, since late 2023. Washington's tariff plans have also added to cooling diplomatic ties with African countries, as some economies — including Lesotho and Madagascar — warned that even a baseline 10% levy could threaten critical exports such as apparel and minerals. But Fitrell said that the proposed U.S. import tariffs were not yet implemented, and negotiations were ongoing to create a more reciprocal trading environment, including through the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The initiative grants qualifying African nations duty-free access to the U.S. market and is due to expire in September. Fitrell also reaffirmed his country's commitment to the Lobito Corridor railway project, which links Angola's coast to copper-rich Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. "It's not at risk," he said of the initiative, describing it as a "win-win" for U.S. investors and African economies, and underscoring its significance for regional integration. The Trump administration has axed swaths of U.S. foreign aid for Africa, as part of a plan to curb spending it considers wasteful. Angolan President João Lourenço, addressing more than 2,000 government and business leaders at the summit, said U.S. companies should shift from aid to investment-driven partnerships. "It is time to replace the logic of aid with the logic of investment and trade," Lourenço said, urging diversification into sectors such as automotive manufacturing, shipbuilding, tourism, cement, and steel production. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Business Insider
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Rwanda-DRC peace talks under intense pressure as US sets ambitious deadline
A senior U.S. diplomat has stated that the United States is intensifying pressure for rapid progress in peace talks between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with the goal of brokering a peace agreement as early as June or July. The United States is urging rapid advancements in peace talks between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Key negotiation principles are in place, but implementation details remain under discussion. The security crisis in eastern Congo, exacerbated by rebel activity, drives international concern and engagement. Speaking at an online briefing attended by participants and stakeholders, the U.S. State Department's lead official for African affairs, Troy Fitrell, provided an update on the ongoing negotiations between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, the two warring nations. He said: " This coming week, we have technical teams on the ground to try to move to the next stage," Fitrell stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that while key principles of negotiations have been established, debates remain on implementation and agreements, with a June or July peace deal still in sight. He also added, " There's no time for delay. If we're going to make this happen, we need to act now," underscoring Washington's push to accelerate negotiations. His comments come amid persistent tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali, where a planned peace deal meeting in May between the Rwandan and Congolese foreign ministers was canceled; highlighting the fragility of dialogue despite ongoing mediation from Washington and Qatar. Notably, the United States' renewed diplomatic urgency stems from growing concerns over the escalating security crisis in eastern Congo, where the M23 rebel group has recently seized large tracts of territory, triggering mass displacements and posing a threat to regional stability, which in turn could impact potential US mining investments and future operations in the region. Mediation in Doha In a complementary effort, Qatar-led peace talks have been underway in recent months, with delegations from the DRC government and M23 rebels set to reconvene in Doha for further discussions. This initiative is tantamount to the US-led regional peace push and aims to address the ongoing military conflict in North Kivu, where the M23's resurgence has raised concerns about cross-border involvement. Both initiatives seek to protect individual interests, particularly the region's natural resources. The DRC's accusations that Rwanda is backing the M23 rebels remain a point of contention, with Kigali consistently denying the allegations. According to diplomatic sources, mutual distrust between the two nations continues to hinder peace efforts, despite increased international engagement U.S. Mediation Role Recall the recent diplomatic push to stabilize the Great Lakes region, where the US has taken on a key role. In March and May, Washington hosted senior officials from the DRC and Rwanda for backchannel talks, and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio urged a ceasefire through diplomatic channels. However, analysts caution that without stronger political will and trust-building measures, any agreement may be fragile. A Western diplomat familiar with the process noted, " Diplomatic timelines have limits; sustainable peace requires concrete action and genuine engagement from both sides.' As technical teams reconvene and mediators intensify their efforts, the focus is on whether the parties can overcome their deep-seated animosity to achieve a breakthrough in the coming weeks.
Mint
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
US pushes for June peace deal between Rwanda and Congo
(Corrects Fitrell's title in paragraph 2) KINSHASA (Reuters) -The United States is pressing for swift progress in peace negotiations between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with a senior U.S. diplomat underscoring an 'extremely aggressive timeline' for a potential agreement as early as June or July. Troy Fitrell, the senior U.S. bureau official for Africa, said during an online conference this week that technical teams are working to move the process forward. 'This coming week, we do have technical teams here to try to get to the next stage,' Fitrell said. 'We've done these principles. Now we have been arguing about putting these principles into action. We are still shooting for a June or July peace agreement.' 'There is no sense fooling around on this. If we are going to do it, we do it now,' he added, emphasizing Washington's push to accelerate negotiations. A planned meeting in May between the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the DRC did not take place, highlighting ongoing tensions and the fragility of the peace process. In a separate but parallel mediation effort in Doha, delegations from the Congolese government and the M23 rebel group have been recalled for further talks following consultations this week, sources from both sides told Reuters. The Qatar-led process is seen as a complementary track aimed at addressing the armed conflict in eastern Congo, where M23 rebels have seized territory in recent months. Despite regional and international efforts, mistrust remains deep between Kinshasa and Kigali. The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting M23, a charge Rwanda denies. The U.S. has played a growing role in trying to bridge differences, but diplomats caution that achieving a durable settlement will require political will on all sides. (Reporting by Sonia Rolley; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- 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.
