Washington, D.C. – President Barack Obama’s new ambassador to the African Union, St. Louis native Michael Anthony Battle Sr., was sworn in Aug. 21 at a ceremony at the State Department in Washington, D.C.
As the president’s personal representative to the 53-nation African Union, Battle is responsible for maintaining the U.S.’s relationship with the union and its officials, and for monitoring the daily affairs of the organization and reporting back to Washington.
“I am confident they will advance American diplomacy as we work to meet the challenges of the 21st century,” Obama said of Battle and other new ambassadors whose appointments were jointly announced.
The African Union is at the center of many serious problems facing Africa – peacekeeping in Sudan and Somalia, conflict resolution, increasing economic prosperity – and Battle will consult closely with the body on these issues.
A State Department official, speaking on background, said Battle will be delegated to explain the U.S.’s position on issues pending before the African Union, and “sometimes he will need to use his contacts inside the African Union in order to persuade the AU to adopt our position.”
During Battle’s induction ceremony, Johnnie Carson, assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of African Affairs, described the AU as “the most important African organization.”
Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi is the current chairperson of the Assembly of the African Union, the AU’s decision-making body, comprised of the heads of states of all member countries. The AU Ambassador to the U.S., Amina Salum Ali, was present for Battle’s induction ceremony.
Battle is a former vice president of the American Committee on Africa and was an observer for the first free election in South Africa in 1994. He expressed his gratitude to be working with a president who has prioritized the U.S.’s connection with Africa. Battle also stressed the untapped potential of the continent.
“If Africa can feed itself, can you imagine the power that would have for the rest of the world?” Battle said.
“And if Africa can secure itself can you imagine how wonderfully well the rest of the world would profit?”
He stressed that with a stable Africa, important positive changes can take place, such as increasing academic opportunities, spawning agricultural development and economic growth, and reducing violence.
“I will use every opportunity to support the African Union’s efforts to advance democracy and a free press, strengthen electoral systems, promote peace and security,” Battle said.
Up from St. Louis
A large contingent of Battle’s family members and friends, many of them from St. Louis, attended his induction ceremony with pride.
“I felt that the atmosphere was filled with real, genuine love, admiration and support for Michael,” said his sister, Carol Battle-Barnes.
“It’s like I could feel God smiling on us through Michael.”
Another sister, Brenda Battle, said, “It’s pretty phenomenal to have a family member elevated to that place, understanding where we came from.”
Battle had humble beginnings in St. Louis, growing up in a family with 10 other siblings. He is the son of the late Bishop Jesse Battle Sr., a local Pentecostal pastor, and Mary Battle.
Many of his siblings are highly accomplished and have become leaders in the St. Louis community. Most recently, his sister Bettye Battle-Turner made statewide news for her appointment by Gov. Jay Nixon to the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners.
“By most standards, this is something that never should have happened,” Bettye Battle-Turner said of her brother’s appointment.
“But it shows that if a person prepares himself academically and spiritually, when the opportunity of advancement comes, he can walk into it.”
Battle earned his undergraduate degree from Trinity College, a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University, and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Howard University.
He spent 20 years serving as chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserve and in administration at Chicago State, Virginia State and Hampton universities.
Battle resided most recently in Atlanta, where he served as president of the Interdenominational Theological Center, a graduate school of theology.
He and his wife Linda will move to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia this month to begin his new duties. Battle will follow the lead of President Obama, who has made democracy and governance, economic prosperity, and job creation a priority for U.S. policy in Africa.
Battle said of his new boss, “He and I share two passions – building bridges to Africa and building bridges among people and communities, including faith communities.”
