The United States has appointed Massad Boulos as Senior Advisor for Africa and scheduled a high-level visit to Uganda and three other East African countries in early April.
The US Mission Uganda announced the appointment on its X handle, noting that Boulos also serves as Senior Advisor to the US President on Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs.
Senior Advisor Boulos will travel alongside Corina Sanders, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, in a regional tour starting April 3.
The itinerary includes meetings with heads of state and business leaders in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and DR Congo.
“The Department of State is pleased to announce the appointment of Massad Boulos as Senior Advisor for Africa,” the US Mission Uganda stated.
“Senior Advisor Boulos and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Corina Sanders will travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda starting April 3.
During the trip, Senior Advisor Boulos and the team will meet with Heads of State and business leaders to advance efforts for durable peace in eastern DR Congo and to promote US private sector investment in the region.”
Boulos, a Lebanese-American businessman with deep ties to the Middle East and Africa, has been involved in real estate, manufacturing, and trade.
He is best known for his role in the Boulos family’s business empire, which spans Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
His appointment signals Washington’s focus on leveraging private sector engagement alongside diplomatic efforts to address regional challenges.
The US government has taken a renewed interest in the instability in eastern DR Congo, and the new envoy’s visit will not be the first diplomatic intervention.
Last month, US Congressman Ronny Jackson visited the Great Lakes region, holding meetings with leaders of both Rwanda and DR Congo, as well as officials in Uganda.
He later briefed the US Senate committee on security and economic affairs, warning that eastern DR Congo was “essentially ungoverned” and vulnerable to exploitation by armed groups and regional powers.
“The government in Kinshasa lacks the resources and capacity to control the region,” Jackson told lawmakers.
“In reality, it has become just another player in the scramble for resources. Everyone is exploiting the area—Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi—all taking minerals without oversight or regulation.”
Jackson, who visited DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda, described the situation as alarming, arguing that the Congolese military was not only failing to resist the M23 rebel group but, in some cases, soldiers were either fleeing or even joining it.
“The Congolese military is not fighting back,” he said. “In many cases, soldiers are either fleeing or even joining M23.”
His testimony also highlighted the economic implications of the conflict, warning that instability and corruption had created an impossible environment for investment.
“The level of corruption I witnessed was shocking,” he said.
“A Swiss company with an $18 billion valuation was handed an $80 billion tax bill—an absurd figure that was later negotiated down to $1 billion, still many times higher than its annual profits. How can any business survive in such an environment?”
Beyond the security crisis, Jackson called for economic reforms, arguing that DR Congo’s vast mineral wealth should benefit not just Kinshasa but also neighbouring nations through regulated investment and refining operations.
“If foreign investors see a safe and stable environment, they will come, creating economic growth for all,” he said. “Right now, that is impossible.”
The upcoming visit by Boulos and Sanders signals continued US engagement in these issues.
With Uganda playing a role in both peace efforts and regional trade, discussions are expected to focus on security cooperation and investment opportunities.
The outcome of these meetings could shape Washington’s broader approach to stabilising the region, balancing diplomatic pressure with economic incentives.