US Secretary of State in Nasty Encounter in Ruwanda

How Outgoing U.S Assistant Secretary of State For Africa Linda Thomas-Greenfield Almost Lost Her Life in Rwanda

Back in April 1994, outgoing U.S Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, was almost killed by rampaging Hutu Soldiers during the Rwanda genocide.

Linda Thomas- Greenfield was sent to Rwanda on an official visit to assess refugee conditions, but two days after she arrived, the plane of Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana was shot down, and the Rwandan genocide broke out.

Six-feet tall and Black, Thomas- Greenfield was mistaken for a Tutsi. Hutu soldiers held a machine gun to her head, while she begged for her life, emphasizing her Loisiana accent: " I don't have anything to do with this. I'm not a Rwandan. I'm an American." She then watched as soldiers killed a Tutsi gardener. A few days later, she was allowed to leave Rwanda. The genocide claimed a million lives.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield's last day in office is today, after four years as assistant secretary of state.  She was appointed by former president Obama in 2013. She is leaving behind a legacy of hope in role at the State Department.

At dinner in her honour last night in Washington, she revealed "Tomorrow will be my final day as Asst Sec for the Bureau of African Affairs."

"I leave with tremendous pride in what we have accomplished and humbled by the challenges I leave behind for my successor."

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield’s 38-year Foreign Service career includes an ambassadorship to Liberia (2008-20120), and foreign postings in Switzerland (at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations), Pakistan, Kenya, The Gambia, Nigeria, and Jamaica. In addition to the Bureau of Human Resources, her Washington postings include the Bureau of African Affairs (2006-2008) where she served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, and the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (2004-2006) where she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary.

(Thomas-Greenfield with President Buhari)

Thomas-Greenfield, a friend of Nigeria worked alongside, late Prof Adebowale Adefuye,  and former Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson, in ensuring that Nigeria was removed from the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

Nigerians will also not forget her role in pressing for gay rights in the country, according to her in 2014, “As a policy, we will continue to press the government of Nigeria as well as other governments who have provided legislation that discriminate against the gay/lesbian community.” She further stated that “So we will continue to press the government, to press the legislature to change these laws and provide human rights for all Nigerian people regardless of their sexual orientation.” 

Thomas-Greenfield also ensured that the 2015 elections in Nigeria was free and fair by leading the U.S monitoring team to the country.