New U.S ambassador received at MINREX

Michael Stephen Hoza presented his advance copies of letters of credence to the Minister of External Relations on August 22, 2014.

Relations between Cameroon and the United States of America, U.S.A, are now set for greater heights following the arrival in the country of the new Ambassador, His Excellency Michael Stephen Hoza who replaces Ambassador Robert P. Jackson.

As Cameroon’s diplomatic niceties demand, Ambassador Hoza was at the Ministry of External Relations, MINREX, in Yaounde on Friday, August 22, 2014, to present advance copies of his Letters of Credence to Minister Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo. Both the guest and his host were accompanied by a cortege of senior diplomats.

Born on November 21, 1957, in Goldsboro in the U.S State of North Carolina, Michael Stephen Hoza was previously Management Counselor at the US Embassy in Moscow, Russia since 2010. Prior to that, he was Counselor, Interim Deputy Head of Mission in Nairobi, Kenya from 2007-2010.

The new US Envoy is quite familiar with Africa, having also served as Deputy Head of Mission in Mbabane, Swaziland from 1997-2000, Administrative Officer, Asmara, Eritrea, 1993-1997, and Administrative Officer in the African Office responsible for U.S Liaison Offices in Luanda, Angola and Mogadishu, Somalia from 1991-1993. He has equally served in Maputo, Mozambique and Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The holder of a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations Science from the University of Georgetown in the US, Ambassador Michael Stephen Hoza, boasts several prizes.

They are the Senior Honorary Distinction Prize, Group Bravery Prize, Group Service Merit Prize and the Senior Diplomatic Service Prize.

The arrival of the American Ambassador comes on the heels of the first-ever U.S-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington D.C from August 4-6, 2014, at which President Paul Biya and First Lady, Chantal Biya, took active part.

Discussions with various partners included issues of business and economy, women, education, health, peace and prosperity, resilience and food security in a changing climate, and combating wildlife trafficking.

The result of all this was increased American financial aid to Africa in the coming years.