‘US govt shutdown won’t affect Africa operations’

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield also assured that US commitment to its citizen abroad would not be impaired by the shutdown. She spoke via a live web chat with journalists at the US Embassy in Abuja on Thursday. Speaking on the implication of the government shutdown on its activities in Africa, Thomas-Greenfield said: “We are able to continue operations […]

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield also assured that US commitment to its citizen abroad would not be impaired by the shutdown. She spoke via a live web chat with journalists at the US Embassy in Abuja on Thursday.
 Speaking on the implication of the government shutdown on its activities in Africa, Thomas-Greenfield said: “We are able to continue operations sometimes at lower levels as we move forward. Most of our funding right now is 2013 funding and that funding will continue. We are hoping that this is short-lived and we will be able to move forward. I think most of you will not see any difference in what we are doing in Africa on the development front.”
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield reiterated US protection of gay rights in Africa and across the world. She said US interest in Africa is about the people regardless of gender, age, class and country and would not relent in protecting human rights. She also assured Nigeria of her country’s resolve to assist in combating the Boko Haram.
She noted that the US, as part of its efforts, had placed sanctions on their leaders while working with the Nigerian government to address the problem.
“About Boko Haram activities, we do condemn the terrorist group, we are hurt by the attack on college students and we offer our condolences ”, she said.