Congressman Donald Payne will be remembered for generating "greater understanding of Africa" and stronger ties between the United States and "the many countries of Africa," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson said a few hours after Payne's death was announced on Tuesday.

Payne represented New Jersey's 10th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives for 12 terms and was the first African American to represent that state in Congress. Throughout his tenure, he was a tireless advocate for Africa on a wide range of issues. He served as chairman of the Foreign Affairs subcommittee responsible for Africa and Global Health from 1997 until the Republican takeover in 2010, and as ranking Democratic member for the past two years.

"Those who work on Africa in the United States, those who live in Africa, and the many policymakers who are engaged on Africa have lost a great friend in Congressman Donald Payne," Carson said in an interview. Payne's greatest contribution, Carson said, was promoting policies "to help Africa meet its many economic, political and social challenges." Both Africa and the United States benefited from those efforts, Carson said.

Carson noted that one of Payne's predecessors as Africa Subcommittee chairman, Howard Wolpe, died in October. Both men "contributed enormously" to improved U.S. policy towards Africa, and "both of them will be greatly missed," he said.