U.S. officials confirm plans to name Gration as ambassador to Kenya

U.S. officials confirm plans to name Gration as ambassador to Kenya
Monday 13 September 2010 Send

September 12, 2010 (WASHINGTON) – The United States president Barack Obama intends to name his special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration as ambassador to Kenya likely in the coming months, the New York Times (NYT) reported today.


U.S. special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration (Reuters) Last month, U.S. based Foreign Policy magazine quoted multiple sources as saying that Gration “is considering taking the job of U.S. Ambassador in Nairobi.”

However, the sources said that Gration is lobbying to keep his Sudan portfolio even as ambassador to Kenya which the magazine said will likely become an uphill battle doomed to fail.

The NYT citing unnamed U.S. officials said today that Obama, who has personal ties with Gration, plans to name him as ambassador to Kenya.

The administration officials said that Obama had long wanted to post the envoy in Nairobi, where General Gration spent part of his childhood and later helped train the Kenyan air force.

Gration said he is prepared to take any post as decided by his boss.

“If the president decides to move me to another job, that’s his prerogative,” General Gration said when asked about his future. “I’m committed to this job until I’m given a new job.”

The newspaper said that the January 2011 referendum in South Sudan is likely to be Gration’s last major effort as special envoy.

Gration has been an unpopular figure in Washington, since his appointment in Macrh 2009, where he was seen by advocacy groups as someone who favoured lenient approach with the Sudanese government headed by president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and genocide he allegedly masterminded in Darfur.

The Sudanese presidential adviser Mustafa Ismail said this week that Gration despite his frequent visits has failed to produce any big impact on the country’s pressing issues.

(ST)