Herman J. Cohen

Herman J. Cohen spent 38 years in the United States Foreign Service, specializing in African affairs. He served as an American Ambassador in Africa and held several high positions in the Department of State, including Assistant Secretary of State for Africa during the Bush Administration (1989-1993). During that period, he was very involved in the resolution of civil wars in a number of African countries, and inaugurated the first democracy support programs in Africa funded by the United States Government. Following his retirement from the State Department, Mr. Cohen joined the Global Coalition for Africa as a Senior Advisor, specializing in the promotion of democracy and good governance in African countries. After five years with the GCA, Mr. Cohen established his own consulting firm, Cohen and Woods International, specializing in building business links between private sector operators in the United States and Africa. Mr. Cohen’s book on conflict resolution in Africa (Intervening in Africa: Superpower Peacemaking in a Troubled Continent: Macmillan, 2000) was cited for distinguished writing on diplomacy by the American Academy of Diplomacy during the year 2000.