Makila James (born July 1957) is an American diplomat who has been a career Foreign Service Officer within the U.S. State Department.

[6] From early experiences on the continent, including monitoring elections in Nigeria, James wrote in a letter to the editor of The Washington Post in 1995: "Africa is no easy place to love or know.

"[7] During 2002–2003, James was a research fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy within the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

[6] One of James' major initiatives was furthering the protection of Swazi women and adolescent girls, especially in the context of the country's endemic HIV/AIDS problems.

[9] Many of these efforts were done in conjunction improving maternal health care and other services as part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

[9] In 2014, the case of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and journalist Bheki Makhubu being imprisoned attracted attention to Swaziland's lack of political freedoms.

[10] Ambassador James attended sessions of the High Court of Swaziland that pertained to the two and she stated that, "We are here in solidarity and to give moral support [to them].

[14] Beginning in September 2018, James served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Africa and the Sudans within the Bureau of African Affairs at the Department of State.

[15] In this role, she traveled to Khartoum in April 2019 following the 2019 Sudanese coup d'état, urging the Transitional Military Council to "heed the people of Sudan's legitimate demand for a civilian led, inclusive and representative government that respects human rights.