Commission on African Affairs Zufan Tarekegn Confirmation Resolution of 2026

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Phil Mendelson

Confirms Zufan Tarekegn as a public member of the DC Commission on African Affairs to fill the remaining term through Oct 27, 2027.

Referred to Committee on Youth Affairs

Purpose and Intent

Purpose: To confirm the appointment of Zufan Tarekegn as a public member of the District of Columbia Commission on African Affairs.

Legislative vehicle: A confirmation resolution signed by the Mayor and introduced in the Council of the District of Columbia.

Term: Fill a vacant seat formerly held by Kate Okoye for the remainder of an unexpired term, ending October 27, 2027.

Key Provisions and Changes

Appointment confirmation: The Council is requested to confirm Zufan Tarekegn’s appointment to the Commission on African Affairs, established by the Office and Commission on African Affairs Act of 2006.

Seat details: Public member position, Ward 2 resident, filling the vacancy left by Kate Okoye.

Term length: Unexpired term through October 27, 2027.

Notification and process: Upon adoption, a copy of the resolution will be transmitted to the nominee and to the Mayor.

Effective date: Resolution takes effect immediately.

Nominee background (provided in bill materials):

Professional experience across public-facing roles, including CVS Pharmacy (Store Associate) and leadership/educational roles (Executive Director & Co-founder, Ethiopian Organization for Migration; educator at Yeneta Language and Cultural Academy).
Community engagement: Involvement with TASSC International, refugee support work, and advocacy for Ethiopian communities.
Education: MS in Dryland Biodiversity (Addis Ababa University) and B.S. in Biology (Dilla University).
Skills: Multilingual (Amharic, English), cross-cultural communication, program management, budgeting, and stakeholder engagement.
Residency: Ward 2, Washington, DC.

Who Is Affected

The Commission on African Affairs: Adds a new public member to its roster.

Zufan Tarekegn: Becomes a confirmed public member for the term ending October 27, 2027.

City governance: Council oversight and confirmation process for appointees to the Commission on African Affairs.

Ward 2 community: Representation on the Commission is updated to Zufan Tarekegn.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduction: PR 26-0652 introduced by Council Chairman Phil Mendelson.

Referral: Referred to the Committee on Youth Affairs (Action History: 2026-05-05; 2026-04-20 introduction).

Confirmation process: Follows the Confirmation Act of 1978 and related 2006 Act governing the Commission on African Affairs.

Certification: Mayor’s Office and Office of the General Counsel completed a legal sufficiency review, indicating no legal objections to the resolution.

Status: Pending Council confirmation; the Mayor’s letter and nominee bio accompany the resolution materials.

Notable Details

The resolution is titled: “Commission on African Affairs Zufan Tarekegn Confirmation Resolution of 2026.”

The nominee’s background emphasizes advocacy, refugee support, and community engagement with a focus on African diaspora communities in DC.

The official code references: DC Official Code § 2-1393 (Commission on African Affairs) and Confirmation Act of 1978 (with updates).

This summary provides the bill’s purpose, key provisions, affected parties, and procedural steps to help readers understand the essence and impact of PR 26-0652.

Bill