American diplomat reflects on service in Africa in Diplomatic Discussion
October 14, 2024UNC Global Affairs
The continent of Africa has experienced sustained economic growth for more than a decade; however, according to retired U.S. Ambassador Geeta Pasi, due to pandemics, recent military coups and deteriorating security in certain regions, this growth has slowed. Pasi remains optimistic that African governments can accomplish an economic resurgence by harnessing the potential of their rapidly growing population and critical natural resources, as she argued in a recent Diplomatic Discussion.
Pasi served as U.S. ambassador on three occasions — to Djibouti (2011-2014), Chad (2016-2018) and Ethiopia (2021-2022) — and as principal deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau for African Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. On Thursday, Sept. 19, Pasi spoke at the second Diplomatic Discussion of the semester in the Nelson Mandela Auditorium at the FedEx Global Education Center.
UNC Global Affairs organized the event in collaboration with the American Academy of Diplomacy (AAD), which hosts a podcast series called “The General and the Ambassador.” Pasi recorded an episode on U.S. foreign policy in Africa with Admiral Mike Franken. UNC Global Affairs and AAD selected Pasi to share some of her experiences in the Foreign Service and her insights on the future of the continent at Carolina.
In her presentation, titled “Africa: Reflections from an American Diplomat,” she discussed how important factors such as population growth, natural resources and regional security will impact the continent’s future. According to Pasi, astonishing change is underway in Africa, as the population is expected to double to 2.5 billion people by 2050.
“In the next 50 to 75 years, countries in Africa will experience significant population growth, but why should we care?” Because, Pasi said, “they’re going to demand seats on the UN Security Council, there will be significant migration issues and increased conflict over resources, all of which will have an impact outside the continent.”
Along with rapid population growth, Africa’s abundance of natural resources, including rare earth minerals, will become crucial to its future economic development. Pasi described the demand for these minerals by identifying the materials needed to assemble a smartphone.
“While some countries outside Africa do have deposits of these critical minerals, Central African countries are the mothership,” Pasi said. “These minerals have names we have never uttered but are essential for the production of cell phones, computers and batteries.”
After Pasi’s presentation, Barbara Stephenson and Navin Bapat co-moderated a conversation with Pasi. Stephenson is the vice provost for global affairs and chief global officer, and Bapat is a professor of political science, the Dowd Professor of Peace and War in the Department of Political Science and the chair of Carolina’s Curriculum of Peace, War and Defense. Stephenson and Bapat asked Pasi questions about the continent’s potential for economic growth and U.S. influence on the continent given increased competition with China. Afterwards, Pasi answered several questions from students in the audience.
Earlier that day, Bapat and Professor of the Practice Andrew Sisson hosted Pasi in classes they teach at Carolina, where she talked in more detail about her career and perspectives on specific current events in Africa and Asia.
After her esteemed career in the Foreign Service, Pasi became the inaugural Donald F. McHenry Visiting Professor in Diplomacy and International Affairs at Illinois State University.
Carolina’s Diplomacy Initiative provides opportunities for students to encounter shared global challenges and practice the skills used by diplomats to address them. After Diplomatic Discussions, students are encouraged to engage personally with the speakers and learn more about their expertise and insights.
UNC Global Affairs has organized multiple Diplomatic Discussions in partnership with AAD, including three annual Joseph J. Sisco Memorial Forum lectures (2020, 2021, and 2024), as well as further collaboration on this podcast in spring 2025.