List of ambassadors of the United States to Botswana

Last updated

Ambassador of the United States to Botswana
US Department of State official seal.svg
Seal of the United States Department of State
Howard-van-Vranken.jpg
since May 24, 2023
NominatorThe President of the United States
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Inaugural holder Charles H. Pletcher
as Chargé d'Affaires
FormationSeptember 1966
Website U.S. Embassy - Gaborone

From 1885 until 1966 the area of Southern Africa that is now Botswana was part of the Bechuanaland Protectorate of Great Britain.

Contents

In June 1964, Britain accepted proposals for democratic self-government in Botswana. The seat of government was moved from Mahikeng in South Africa, to newly established in Gaberones (now Gaborone) in 1965. The 1965 constitution led to the first general elections and to independence on September 30, 1966.[ citation needed ]

The United States immediately recognized the new nation and moved to establish diplomatic relations. An embassy in Gaberones was established on September 30, 1966—independence day for Botswana. Charles H. Pletcher was appointed as Chargé d'affaires ad interim pending the appointment of an ambassador. [1] He served June 1970–September 1971.

Ambassadors

NameTitleAppointed Presented credentials Terminated missionNotes
Charles J. Nelson – Political appointee [a] Ambassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJune 9, 1971November 3, 1971Left Gaborone, March 2, 1974
David B. Bolen – Career FSO [a] February 28, 1974April 22, 1974Left Gaborone, August 11, 1976
Donald R. Norland – Career FSO [b] November 17, 1976February 23, 1978Left Gaborone, September 8, 1979In 1979 the first ambassador was appointed solely for Botswana.
Horace Dawson – Career FSOOctober 12, 1979November 27, 1979August 27, 1982
Theodore C. Maino – Political appointeeSeptember 30, 1982December 2, 1982September 6, 1985
Natale H. Bellocchi – Career FSOOctober 28, 1985November 19, 1985September 16, 1988
John Florian Kordek – Career FSOAugust 11, 1988September 29, 1988November 1, 1989
David Passage – Career FSOJune 27, 1990August 7, 1990April 29, 1993
Howard Franklin Jeter – Career FSOJuly 16, 1993September 9, 1993June 21, 1996
Robert Krueger – Political appointeeJune 6, 1996July 23, 1996December 6, 1999
John E. Lange – Career FSONovember 16, 1999December 15, 1999August 8, 2002
Joseph Huggins – Career FSONovember 15, 2002January 28, 2003July 26, 2005
Katherine H. P. Canavan – Career FSOAugust 2, 2005September 27, 2005June 27, 2008 [2]
Stephen J. Nolan – Career FSOJune 23, 2008 [3] October 6, 2008June 13, 2011 [4]
Michelle D. Gavin – Political appointeeApril 18, 2011June 20, 2011February 22, 2014
Earl Robert Miller – Foreign Service SpecialistDecember 2014December 18, 2014September 24, 2018
Craig L. Cloud - Career FSOJanuary 7, 2019April 2, 2019 [5] May 24, 2022
Howard Van Vranken - Career FSODecember 21, 2022May 24, 2023Incumbent

Notes

  1. 1 2 Accredited to Botswana, Eswatini, and Lesotho.
  2. ↑ Norland was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on June 24, 1977.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Botswana - Chiefs of Mission - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  2. ↑ United States Dep’t of State: Biography of Katherine H. Canavan
  3. ↑ United States Dep’t of State: Biography of Stephen J. Nolan
  4. ↑ "Stephen James Nolan - People - Department History - Office of the Historian".
  5. ↑ Molefhi, Aobakwe (3 April 2019). "Botswana: Four Envoys Present Credentials". allAfrica. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
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