LAST SAFARI
Republican Ed Royce’s respectful interest in Africa will be missed
Royce has been relentless in seeking to convince the US Congress that Africa matters, writes Anthony Carroll
Over the past quarter century, few members of the US Congress have taken a more serious, supportive or politically brave interest in Africa than Republican Ed Royce, now chairman of the house foreign affairs committee and for many years previously its Africa subcommittee. None would be less likely than this frequent visitor to use barnyard epithets to describe the continent or its people. Earlier in January, the Orange County, California, representative unexpectedly added his name to the growing list of GOP members who have decided not to seek re-election in November. This week he makes what is likely to be his last official visit to the region, leading a large bipartisan delegation to SA, Angola and Botswana. Royce’s departure means the loss of a respectful voice for Africa in Washington. And he will be missed by all who cherish the out-of-fashion notion that political partisanship should end at the American shoreline. As a Republican administration led by President Donald Trump pu...
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