Africa-Press – Lesotho. The United States government has appointed the new Ambassador to Lesotho following the end of the tour of duty for the previous one. Maria E. Brewer relieves Rebecca Gonzalez whose assignment in the Mountain Kingdom
ended last month. The incoming Ambassador had presented her credentials to His Majesty King Letsie III at the Royal Palace last week on March 10. She told the King: “On behalf of President Joseph R.
Biden and the American people, I commit my government’s friendship, support, and partnership to work alongside you and the Government of Lesotho to build a brighter future for the Basotho
people. ” Ambassador Brewer further said while presenting her credentials to the Head of State: “We have joined forces to achieve much success. Together, we will achieve much
more. Your Majesty, we seek to promote democratic governance, as a core American value. The Government of Lesotho has committed to reforms to reduce political instability,
strengthen institutions, and professionalize the security services, goals we also share. Free and fair elections form the basis of a strong democracy.
Lesotho has the opportunity later this year to demonstrate its commitment to advance the Kingdom’s democratic process. “I can assure you, Your Majesty, the United States stands with you in that effort.
I would also like to highlight the important progress the Government of Lesotho is making related to human trafficking, and the supportive role the United
States has played. Ultimately, ending modern slavery secures a most basic human right, the right to be free. Hard work remains, but I am certain achieving
these important reforms is possible. According to the US Embassy, Ambassador Brewer served as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Sierra Leone
from 2017 to 2021. ” She has previously held the position of the Deputy Director in the Office of Career Development and Assignments for the U. S. State Department; as the Deputy Chief
of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires of the U. S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria; and as a leader of the management team at the U. S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Earlier in her career, Ambassador Brewer served as the Management Officer at the U. S. Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka and Management Officer at the U. S.
Consulate General in Mumbai, India. She had also served as the Deputy Executive Director and Supervisory Post Management Officer in the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs; Special
Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Management; and Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for Administration. Ambassador Brewer holds a B.
A. from Valparaiso University and has read an M. S. (Master of Security) from the National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
She speaks English, Spanish, Krio, and Hindi. Lesotho and America have since enjoyed diplomatic relations following the attainment of independence from Great Britain in 1966.
America had supported Lesotho in health, agriculture, economy and education sectors. Some of the major highlights for this diplomatic relations saw the signing of the
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact in July 2007 running north of US$362.5 million approximately M5.5 billion. The funding was intended to upgrade and build new health facilities across the country, support the water
sector and private sector. It is reported that this funding had benefited over one million Basotho. Lesotho has also been selected for the second compact of MCC.
“The objective of the compact is to encourage equitable and sustainable economic growth in
partnership with the private sector by loosening key constraints to growth,” said the MCC website. Lesotho is also the beneficiary of the US African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) which
allows duty-free imports from African countries to the US market. The country has mostly exploited this arrangement through the textile and apparel industry which had created about 40 000 jobs for Basotho.
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