Princeton Nathan Lyman (November 20, 1935 – August 24, 2018)[1] was a diplomat and former United States Ambassador to Nigeria (1986–89) and South Africa (1992–95), and former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (1996–98[2]).[3] He was a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy and the Aspen Institute, and was Adjunct Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies with the Council on Foreign Relations.[4]
Princeton Lyman | |
|---|---|
| 20th United States Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs | |
| In office March 19, 1997 – October 22, 1998 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Douglas J. Bennet |
| Succeeded by | David Welch |
| United States Ambassador to South Africa | |
| In office July 14, 1992 – December 14, 1995 | |
| President | George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | William Lacy Swing |
| Succeeded by | James A. Joseph |
| United States Ambassador to Nigeria | |
| In office September 12, 1986 – July 24, 1989 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Thomas W. M. Smith |
| Succeeded by | Lannon Walker |
| 6th Director of the Bureau of Refugee Programs | |
| In office September 5, 1989 – June 15, 1992 | |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Moore |
| Succeeded by | Warren Zimmermann |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 20, 1935 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Died | August 24, 2018 (aged 82) Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. |
Lyman had a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. from Harvard University.[5]
Career
editLyman played a crucial role in the negotiation and signing of the 1994 Accord on Afrikaner self-determination in South Africa. As the U.S. Ambassador, he skillfully mediated between General Constand Viljoen, representing Afrikaner interests, and the African National Congress (ANC). Lyman's deep understanding of South Africa's complex political landscape and his respect for Afrikaner concerns helped prevent potential conflict during the transition from apartheid, ultimately facilitating the peaceful inclusion of Afrikaners in the new South African democracy.[6]
In January, 2010, Lyman weighed in in opposition to using the U.S. Alien Tort Statute in federal court to gain reparations for South African workers, from corporations who operated in South Africa during the apartheid era.[7]
In January, 2011, Lyman, who acted for the US government in mediation talks between the north and south of Sudan, was in Sudan for the independence referendum of Southern Sudan.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ Schudel, Matt. "Princeton Lyman, U.S. ambassador who helped guide South Africa out of apartheid, dies at 82". Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
- ^ Council on Foreign Relations biography Retrieved 2010-01-12.
- ^ "Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project AMBASSADOR PRINCETON LYMAN" (PDF). Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. 12 May 1999. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ Council of Foreign Relations Web page. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
- ^ U.S. Department of State Archived Biography. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
- ^ Freiherr von der Ropp, Klaus (2 August 2024). "The Key Role of US Ambassador Nathan Princeton Lyman in the Birth of the Accord on Afrikaner Self-Determination – A Personal View". africanquestions.org. Dr. Klaus Freiherr von der Ropp. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Paying the Price for Apartheid" OpEd by Princeton N. Lyman, International Herald Tribune, January 5, 2010 (in print on Jan. 6, 2010 in The Herald Tribune). Retrieved 2010-01-12.
- ^ Sudanese get ready for south's independence vote
- ^ "U.S. Special Envoys for Sudan: A succession of failure, duplicity, and cynicism - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan". www.sudantribune.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
External links
edit Media related to Princeton Lyman at Wikimedia Commons