Appointment of Special Envoy for Somalia
Statement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (May 17, 2007)

I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Ambassador John M. Yates as Special Envoy for Somalia. He will represent the United States with the Transitional Federal Institutions and other key Somali groups, as well as coordinate on Somalia and international partners.

The United States is commited to helping Somalis develop their national institutions and overcome the legacy of violence and disorder of the past. By supporting the people of Somalia in this effort, we are also contributing to the peace and stability of the Horn of Africa, and to the African continent as a whole. (more)