US ambassador to serve Biden in Namibia
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
Key political appointments of staff members at the United States embassy in Namibia, including Ambassador Lisa Johnson, are not expected to be affected by the change of government in their country.
Democrat Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of that country yesterday, toppling from power billionaire Donald Trump and his Republican party.
Namibian Sun sought to understand whether the change of guard at the White House had significant bearing on key deployments at the embassy in Windhoek, or if this would affect programmes that were set in motion during Trump's unconventional time in office.
Ambassador Johnson was appointed to serve in Namibia during Trump's first and only term in office.
No change
Commenting on the new developments in Washington DC, embassy spokesperson Walter Parrs said no change in guard would take place in Windhoek for the time being.
“Ambassador Johnson will continue her appointment as US ambassador to Namibia into the Biden administration,” he said.
Prior to her appointment to Namibia, Johnson served as the Chargé d'Affaires at the US embassy in Nassau, The Bahamas, from 2014 to 2017.
She also worked in the office of the American vice-president from 2012 to 2014, at which time Biden was that country's second in command.
Namibian Sun could not determine Johnson's political affiliation.
Full steam ahead
The US embassy's cultural and exchange programmes were unlikely to be affected by the new administration, Parr said.
“The new administration will begin announcing and rolling out more of its priorities after the inauguration. The US embassy's exchange, scholarship, grants, and other long-standing, successful programmes in Namibia will certainly continue full steam.
Our Fulbright, EducationUSA, PEPFAR, and conservation programmes have been long-standing strategic priorities in our relationship with Namibia, and they all will continue in the next administration,” Parr said.
WINDHOEK
Key political appointments of staff members at the United States embassy in Namibia, including Ambassador Lisa Johnson, are not expected to be affected by the change of government in their country.
Democrat Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of that country yesterday, toppling from power billionaire Donald Trump and his Republican party.
Namibian Sun sought to understand whether the change of guard at the White House had significant bearing on key deployments at the embassy in Windhoek, or if this would affect programmes that were set in motion during Trump's unconventional time in office.
Ambassador Johnson was appointed to serve in Namibia during Trump's first and only term in office.
No change
Commenting on the new developments in Washington DC, embassy spokesperson Walter Parrs said no change in guard would take place in Windhoek for the time being.
“Ambassador Johnson will continue her appointment as US ambassador to Namibia into the Biden administration,” he said.
Prior to her appointment to Namibia, Johnson served as the Chargé d'Affaires at the US embassy in Nassau, The Bahamas, from 2014 to 2017.
She also worked in the office of the American vice-president from 2012 to 2014, at which time Biden was that country's second in command.
Namibian Sun could not determine Johnson's political affiliation.
Full steam ahead
The US embassy's cultural and exchange programmes were unlikely to be affected by the new administration, Parr said.
“The new administration will begin announcing and rolling out more of its priorities after the inauguration. The US embassy's exchange, scholarship, grants, and other long-standing, successful programmes in Namibia will certainly continue full steam.
Our Fulbright, EducationUSA, PEPFAR, and conservation programmes have been long-standing strategic priorities in our relationship with Namibia, and they all will continue in the next administration,” Parr said.
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