US Special envoy to Horn of Africa to leave months after taking over

David SatterfieldPhotographer: Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images

NAIROBI, Kenya - David Satterfield, the United States special envoy to the Horn of Africa is leaving his post a few months after taking over, The Foreign Policy reports, in a move that comes as the region battles with instability.

For months now, the Horn of Africa has been an epicenter of political conflicts which have triggered massive economic downturns and in the worst instances, deaths of thousands of people. Ethiopia and Somalia are the most affected by the conflict.

Satterfield, a veteran career diplomat who served as U.S. President Joe Biden’s special envoy for the East African region, was appointed in January to oversee U.S. efforts to address the devastating conflict in Ethiopia and respond to neighboring Sudan’s floundering efforts to transition to democracy after decades under authoritarian rule.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment to confirm Satterfield’s departure and address questions on why Satterfield was leaving his post, the timeline of his departure, or who is expected to replace him, Foreign Policy noted.

The deputy special envoy, Payton Knopf, is expected to take over his job on an interim basis in an acting capacity, two officials said. Satterfield replaced Jeffrey Feltman, who had been trying to solve the Tigray conflict but failed to broker truce better Tigray Defense Forces and the Ethiopian government.

Both Satterfield and Payton Knopf are expected in Ethiopia today where they are set to meet a host of officials from the Ethiopian government and humanitarian organizations. The Ethiopian government is under pressure to ensure humanitarian teams access the Tigray region.

"Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa David Satterfield and Deputy Special Envoy Payton Knopf will arrive in Ethiopia on April 13 for meetings with Ethiopian government officials, representatives of humanitarian organizations, and diplomatic partners," State Department noted.

"Their visit continues U.S. efforts towards ceasing hostilities, unhindered humanitarian access, transparent investigations into human rights abuses and violations by all actors, and a negotiated resolution to the conflict in Ethiopia."

It's not clear why the envoy of leaving but some reports indicate he has been facing frustrations from top government officials in Ethiopia and African Union, who support Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The conflict in Ethiopia is entering its 18th month.

Rashid Abdi, an analyst of Horn of Africa security matters, contends that the exit information is true, adding that the envoy has been subjected to frustrations by authorities in Addis Ababa and the AU envoy Olusegun Obasanjo.

"I can confirm US Special Envoy Satterfield leaving post barely months after he replaced Feltman. The exit of two envoys in such quick succession can't be a coincidence. Telegraphs dysfunction in US-led mediation," he noted. "Hearing US envoys basically frustrated out by Obasanjo, AU, and Ethiopia."

GAROWE ONLINE