Swan, James Christopher, 1963-

<p>Former Ambassador with 25 years of experience leading multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams in difficult political/security environments, mostly in Central and East Africa. Expertise in promoting business and investment, countering terrorism and violent extremism, advancing democracy and governance, and shaping peacekeeping operations and security sector reform programs. Fluent in French. Proficient in dealing with the media, Congress, and key international partner countries.</p>
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<p>Cygnet Strategies, LLC<br>
Principal<br>
Oct 2017 – Present (2 years 10 months)<br>
Washington D.C. Metro Area<br>
Cygnet Strategies, LLC, is a consulting firm specializing in business and investment opportunities in East and Central Africa. Cygnet draws on the experience, contacts and advocacy skills of its Principal, James Swan, to help clients enter and succeed in challenging markets in the region. Recent clients have included mining, private equity, and property development companies, among others. In addition to strategic consulting services, Cygnet also partners with a Kenyan financial advisory firm to match international investors to promising new projects in the region.<br>
Cygnet Principal James Swan left the U.S. Government in 2016 after a three-decade diplomatic career devoted primarily to African countries facing complex political transitions in risky security environments.<br>
As United States Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2013-2016), Swan guided the U.S. mission during a period of intense diplomatic activity that contributed to the defeat of an important rebel group, increased international support for governance and stabilization programs, and a negotiated political settlement that averted a violent conflict at the end of the DRC President’s constitutional mandate.<br>
As Special Representative for Somalia (2011-2013), Swan oversaw expansion of U.S. military assistance to undermine the al-Shabaab terrorist group and worked with international partners to help Somali leaders organize indirect elections and a peaceful transfer of power. Based on progress achieved, the U.S. government formally recognized the Somali government for the first time in more than 20 years.<br>
As Ambassador to Djibouti (2008-2011), he led a significant increase in military cooperation with Djibouti (which hosts the largest U.S. military installation in Africa) while also expanding U.S. support to the health, education, and governance sectors.</p>

<p>Senior Adviser<br>
Albright Stonebridge Group<br>
Sep 2018 – Present (1 year 11 months)<br>
Washington D.C. Metro Area<br>
James C. Swan is a Senior Advisor in the Africa practice of the Albright Stonebridge Group, drawing on his long career as a diplomat working in and with countries facing complex political transitions to help the firm’s clients navigate in overseas markets.</p>

<p>The latest ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo is a State Department Africa specialist who has served as the U.S. Special Representative for Somalia since August 2011. James C. Swan previously served as the number two official at the U.S. embassy in Kinshasa, and he is well acquainted with the situation in war-torn central Africa. Confirmed by the Senate to succeed James Entwistle, Swan was sworn in on September 5.</p>

<p>Born circa 1962, Swan earned a B.S. in Foreign Service at Georgetown University in 1984, an M.A. in International Studies at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and an M.A. in national security studies at the National War College in 2005.</p>

<p>Before joining the Foreign Service, Swan worked as a management analyst in the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education.</p>

<p>Swan has devoted most of his professional career to countries facing complex political transitions, mainly in Africa. Early career postings include consular officer in Haiti from 1988 to 1989, political officer in Nicaragua, from 1990 to 1992, chief of the Political Section at the embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from 1992 to 1994, and Somalia Watcher in Nairobi, Kenya, from 1994 to 1996.</p>

<p>In Washington, he served as desk officer for Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from 1996 to 1998, during the rebellion that led to the fall of Mobutu Sese Seko after 32 years in power and the difficult first year of its successor regime, which renamed the country. Swan then served as deputy chief of mission at the embassy in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo from 1998 to 2001, and as deputy chief of mission in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, from 2001 to 2004. </p>

<p>Back in Washington, Swan served as director of analysis for Africa in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research from 2005 to 2006, and as deputy assistant secretary of state for African Affairs from December 2006 to September 2008.</p>

<p>On October 8, 2008, Swan was sworn in as ambassador to Djibouti, his first ever ambassadorship.</p>

<p>Swan is married to fellow Foreign Service Officer Daphne Michelle Titus, with whom he has two children, Mitchell and Garner.</p>

<p>James Christopher Swan (born December 10, 1963, Washington DC) is an American diplomat and a career Foreign Service Officer. From October 2008 to June 2011, he served as the United States Ambassador to Djibouti.</p>

<p>He earned a B.Sc. degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, and a master's in National Security Studies from the National Defense University's National War College, where he was a 2005 distinguished graduate.</p>

<p>In August 2013, he was appointed the U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo.</p>

<p>On 30 May 2019, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of James Swan of the United States as his Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).</p>

<p>Ambassador James C. Swan was confirmed by the Senate as United States Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in August 2013 and began his appointment during September 2013. He previously served as the United States Special Representative for Somalia from August 2011 to July 2013, leading U.S. diplomatic, security, and stabilization initiatives that culminated in U.S. recognition of a Somali government for the first time in more than two decades.</p>

<p>Ambassador Swan has devoted most of his Foreign Service career to Africa, focusing on countries facing complex political transitions in challenging security environments. As Ambassador to Djibouti (2008-2011), he led a significant increase in the U.S.-Djibouti security partnership, while also expanding assistance to the health, education, and governance sectors.</p>

<p>Prior to his assignment to Djibouti, Ambassador Swan served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (2006-2008), with broad responsibility for U.S. policies and programs in 23 central and east African countries. Previously, as Director of Africa Analysis in the Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (2005-2006), Ambassador Swan led a team of intelligence analysts who produced assessments of significant developments throughout sub-Saharan Africa for senior U.S. policy officials.</p>

<p>As Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa (2001-2004), Ambassador Swan advanced negotiations aimed at the withdrawal of foreign forces and an agreement on an internal political framework for elections. As part of his long professional involvement with the Congo, Ambassador Swan was also Zaire/Congo country officer in Washington (1996-1998), serving as focal point during the rebellion that led to the fall of Mobutu Sese Seko after 32 years in power and the difficult first year of its successor regime. Ambassador Swan served as Deputy Chief of Mission and for more than a year Charge d’Affaires in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo (1998-2001) leading efforts to resume U.S. diplomatic operations and mobilize humanitarian response in the aftermath of a brutal civil conflict.</p>

<p>Earlier in his career, Ambassador Swan served as political section chief in Cameroon (1992-1994), political officer in Nicaragua (1990-1992), and consular officer in Haiti (1988-89). Before joining the Foreign Service, he worked as a management analyst in the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education.</p>

<p>Ambassador Swan holds a B.Sc. degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, and a master’s in National Security Studies from the National Defense University’s National War College, where he was a 2005 distinguished graduate.</p>