United States Ambassador to Djibouti
Ambassador of the United States to Djibouti
السفارة الأميركية فى جيبوتى | |
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Seal of the United States Department of State | |
Incumbent Thomas P. Kelly III since June 26, 2014 | |
Nominator | Barack Obama |
Inaugural holder |
Jerrold M. North as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary |
Formation | September 26, 1980 |
Website | U.S. Embassy - Djibouti |
This is a list of Ambassadors from the United States to the Republic of Djibouti.
The area on the Horn of Africa on which Djibout is situated had been under French control since 1885 as part of the protectorate of French Somaliland. The area was ruled by the Vichy (French) government from the fall of France in 1940 until December 1942, but Free French and the Allied forces recaptured Djibouti at the end of 1942. In 1957 the colony was given a large measure of self-government and became the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas. In a May 1977 referendum the populace chose independence from France. The Republic of Djibouti was established on June 27, 1977.
The United States immediately recognized the new nation of Djibouti and moved to establish diplomatic relations. The embassy in Djibouti was established June 27, 1977, with Walter S. Clarke as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim pending the appointment of an ambassador. The first ambassador, Jerrold M. North, was appointed on September 26, 1980.
Ambassadors
U.S. diplomatic terms
After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for those who have served in the Foreign Service for a specified amount of time.
Political appointee
A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president (often as a reward to political friends).
Appointed
The date that the ambassador took the oath of office; also known as “commissioning”. It follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a Congressional-recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador requires subsequent confirmation by the Senate.
Presented credentials
The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador’s arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador’s letter, but this occurs only rarely.
Terminated mission
Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador’s commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy.
Chargé d'affaires
The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country. See chargé d'affaires.
Ad interim
Latin phrase meaning "for the time being", "in the meantime". See ad interim.
- Jerrold M. North – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 26, 1980
- Presented credentials: October 27, 1980
- Terminated mission: Left post August 27, 1982
- Alvin P. Adams – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: April 28, 1983
- Presented credentials: July 16, 1983
- Terminated mission: Left post, August 20, 1985
- John Pierce Ferriter – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: August 1, 1985
- Presented credentials: September 30, 1985
- Terminated mission: Left post, August 27, 1987
- Note: The post was vacant August 1987–September 1988. John E. McAteer served as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim during that period.
- Robert South Barrett IV – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 11, 1988
- Presented credentials: September 5, 1988
- Terminated mission: Left post, April 18, 1991
- Charles R. Baquet, III – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: March 25, 1991
- Presented credentials: October 10, 1991
- Terminated mission: Left post, December 9, 1993
- Martin L. Cheshes – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 22, 1993
- Presented credentials: January 19, 1994
- Terminated mission: Left post, July 30, 1996
- Note: President Clinton’s nomination of Stanley Schrager of May 6, 1996, was withdrawn and he was not appointed.
- Note: The post was vacant July 1996–January 1998. During that period the following officers served as Chargés d’Affaires ad interim: Joseph Philippe Gregoire (July–September 1996) and Terri Robl (September 1996–January 1998).
- Lange Schermerhorn – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 10, 1997
- Presented credentials: January 26, 1998
- Terminated mission: Left post November 17, 2000
- Donald Y. Yamamoto – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 15, 2000
- Presented credentials: December 9, 2000
- Terminated mission: Left post June 16, 2003
- Marguerita Dianne Ragsdale – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: December 12, 2003
- Presented credentials: February 23, 2004
- Terminated mission: 2006(?)
- W. Stuart Symington – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: August 18, 2006
- Presented credentials: Unknown
- Terminated mission: c. October 2008
- James C. Swan
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 3, 2008
- Presented credentials: Unknown
- Terminated mission: June 2011
- Geeta Pasi
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 12, 2011
- Presented credentials: Unknown
- Terminated mission: June 2014
- Thomas P. Kelly III
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 26, 2014
- Presented credentials: Unknown
- Terminated mission: Incumbent
See also
References
- United States Department of State: Background notes on Djibouti
- This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Department of State website http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/index.htm (Background Notes).
External links
- United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Djibouti
- United States Department of State: Djibouti
- United States Embassy in Djibouti