Herman Jay Cohen
Encyclopedia
Herman Jay "Hank" Cohen (born February 10, 1932) served as the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 1989 to 1993. His lobbying firm, Cohen and Woods International, has represented the governments of Angola
and Zimbabwe
. He brokered an end to the Eritrean-Ethiopian War in 1991.
in 1932, received a BA in political science from the City College of New York
in 1953. He then joined the United States Army
, serving until 1955. He received an MA in international relations from American University
in 1962. He worked as a professor at Johns Hopkins University
before his appointment to the post of United States Ambassador to Gambia and Senegal
in 1977, serving until 1980. He later served as the U.S. National Security Council Africa Director and from 1989 to 1993 as the U.S. Official Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. His most recent post was in the World Bank
.
He is affiliated with the American Academy of Diplomacy, the Council on Foreign Relations
, and the French Legion of Honor.
. According to Cohen, Jonas Savimbi
of UNITA
, the leading opposition candidate, told Cohen prior to the election that he would not accept defeat, that he would revive the war
with the MPLA. Following the death of Jeremias Chitunda
, the Vice President of UNITA, on November 2, 1992, Cohen speculated Chitunda may not have been murdered. Chitunda and two of his aides were pulled from their car and shot in the face. According to Cohen, the incident may have been an "accident."
In 1993 Cohen resigned from his office. He registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent of the Angolan government. When his firm's contract with the government ended, he went to work for the Mugabe government
of Zimbabwe
.
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. He brokered an end to the Eritrean-Ethiopian War in 1991.
Career synopsis
Cohen, born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1932, received a BA in political science from the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in 1953. He then joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, serving until 1955. He received an MA in international relations from American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in 1962. He worked as a professor at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
before his appointment to the post of United States Ambassador to Gambia and Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
in 1977, serving until 1980. He later served as the U.S. National Security Council Africa Director and from 1989 to 1993 as the U.S. Official Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. His most recent post was in the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
.
He is affiliated with the American Academy of Diplomacy, the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
, and the French Legion of Honor.
Angola
Cohen observed the Angolan presidential election of 1992 and concluded the election had been "free and fair," a conclusion in stark contrast to most observers and human rights organizations which found massive electoral fraudElectoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
. According to Cohen, Jonas Savimbi
Jonas Savimbi
Jonas Malheiro Savimbi was an Angolan political leader. He founded and led UNITA, a movement that first waged a guerrilla war against Portuguese colonial rule, 1966–1974, then confronted the rival MPLA during the decolonization conflict, 1974/75, and after independence in 1975 fought the ruling...
of UNITA
UNITA
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola is the second-largest political party in Angola. Founded in 1966, UNITA fought with the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola in the Angolan War for Independence and then against the MPLA in the ensuing civil war .The war was one...
, the leading opposition candidate, told Cohen prior to the election that he would not accept defeat, that he would revive the war
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
with the MPLA. Following the death of Jeremias Chitunda
Jeremias Chitunda
Jeremias Kalandula Chitunda served as the Vice President of UNITA until his assassination in Luanda, as part of the Halloween Massacre shortly after the first round of the presidential election, held on September 29-30...
, the Vice President of UNITA, on November 2, 1992, Cohen speculated Chitunda may not have been murdered. Chitunda and two of his aides were pulled from their car and shot in the face. According to Cohen, the incident may have been an "accident."
In 1993 Cohen resigned from his office. He registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent of the Angolan government. When his firm's contract with the government ended, he went to work for the Mugabe government
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
.
Quotes
- "Essentially, the collection process of the CIA is a vacuum cleaner. It takes in everything that they get, and they shove it off to Washington, whether it is garbage or whether it is high quality. And I remember when I was in Senegal, I saw a piece of paper coming across my desk. It was a CIA report. And I said this is garbage. Why are we sending it? And I called in the station chief and I said, Why did this go to Washington? And he said, Well, we are a vacuum cleaner. We take everything in and we send it to Washington. It is up to the people in Washington to decide what to do with it."