The appointments bring valuable connections and expertise as Africell expands and and U.S.-Africa ties deepen
Africell has appointed three senior U.S. diplomats to its group-level advisory board.
Helen La Lime served as United States Ambassador to Angola between 2014 and 2017. Tulinabo Mushingi served as United States Ambassador to Angola from 2022 until 2024. James Story served as Chargé d’Affaires of the United States to Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe from 2024 until 2025.
Ambassadors La Lime, Mushingi and Story join Africell at a time the brand it is growing fast in Angola and in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Africell is the only U.S.-owned mobile network operator in Africa and is a vocal champion of American private sector investment in its operating markets. The appointment of three senior U.S. diplomats to Africell’s advisory board has the benefit both of facilitating connections into the political leadership in Angola and DRC and, equally importantly, of broadening Africell’s representation in Washington D.C.
Ziad Dalloul, Africell’s CEO, president and founder, said:
“Helen, Tulinabo and James all spent successful and influential periods as top American diplomats in Angola, one of Africell’s key growth markets. Each left a legacy of strong and trusting relationships, and their positions gave them unique insights into regional politics, economics and social dynamics that Africell is keen to tap into. I am thrilled that all three of these respected and accomplished professionals recognise Africell’s vision and ambitions in Africa, and I look forward to working with them in their new capacity as members of our advisory board.”
Africell has almost twenty millions customers in Angola, DRC, The Gambia and Sierra Leone. The company was established in 2000 and is headquartered in London, with additional offices in Washington, D.C.
Helen La Lime
Helen La Lime served as United States Ambassador to Angola between 2014 and 2017. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister Counselor, Ambassador La Lime has a wide range of policy, leadership, and management experience developed through service in Africa, the United States, and Europe. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and the National Defense University.
Tulinabo Mushingi
Tulinabo Mushingi served as United States Ambassador to Angola from 2022 until 2024. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ambassador Mushingi began his career in academia, before serving with the Peace Corps and representing the United States as ambassador to countries including Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Burkina Faso. Ambassador Mushingi is a graduate of Howard University and has a PhD from Georgetown University.
James Story
James Story served as Chargé d’Affaires of the United States to Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe from 2024 until 2025. He was previously United States Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, Director for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement in Bogotá, and United States Ambassador to the Venezuela Affairs Unit. Ambassador Story is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Georgetown University.