Cameroon And Niger Existing Without U.S Ambassadors For Eight Months!

Why is Cameroon and Niger without US Ambassadors for more than eight months? The US Secretary of State, John Kerry blames the US Senate for the situation in a latest op-d last week he titled, "Why Is the Senate Hobbling American Diplomacy?"

Kerry admitted that the take over of Boko Harram and the abduction of over 200 girls in Nigeria has ignited a global call fro help to "Bring Back Our Girls" and says, "President Barack Obama responded with urgency, but lost in the story is that one tool the United States would like to have at our disposal is hampered by the absence of U.S. ambassadors in neighboring Cameroon and Niger,” he lamented.

The US Sec. of State added that eight months is way to wide a gap to deprive diplomacy and world aid, "That means we lost eight months when we would have had full-strength, highest-level capacity to build greater regional cooperation and trust to combat the rising threat from this brutal extremist group. Eight months when U.S. advice and training could have helped equip these critical countries to better help themselves. Eight months when we could have provided better assistance to respond to a moral outrage," he bemoaned.

According to Cameroon-info.net, The US Secretary of State disclosed that nominees for these Ambassadorial jobs, including Niger and Cameroon, are victims of a confirmation backlog that grows with each passing day. “It leaves too many of our best and brightest - particularly career Foreign Service officers - languishing on the sidelines instead of being on the ground fighting to protect and promote our interests."

Kerry alleged that its left for the Senate to appoint the new officers. Plus, "this vacancy which is not only in Cameroon but also in many world capitals sends a dangerous message to allies and adversaries alike about America’s engagement", Kerry said.

There are still no answers as to WHEN US Ambassadors will be assigned to these nations but it's likely Obama and the Senate are not so friendly and that is affecting other nations.