Ambassador of the United States to Equatorial Guinea | |
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Nominator | The President of the United States |
Appointer | The President with Senate advice and consent |
Inaugural holder | Albert W. Sherer, Jr. as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary |
Formation | September 13, 1967 |
Website | U.S. Embassy - Malabo |
The United States has maintained diplomatic ties to Equatorial Guinea since independence in 1968. Until 1981, US ambassadors served as the contacts to other African countries simultaneously rather than have a separate person just for Equatorial Guinea.
In the 19th century, the area of Central Africa that now contains the nation of Equatorial Guinea was under Spanish control. The area was known as Spanish Guinea and included the small mainland area of Río Muni and the island of Fernão do Pó (or Fernando Pó), now named Bioko. Rio Muni became a Spanish protectorate in 1885 and a colony in 1900. In 1926 the island of Bioko and the mainland area of Río Muni were united as the colony of Spanish Guinea.
In 1959, the Spanish territory of the Gulf of Guinea was established as a province of Spain known as the Spanish Equatorial Region. Local elections were held and representatives elected to the Cortes Generales (Spanish parliament).
In 1963 limited autonomy was granted to Spanish Guinea and the people were able to elect members to its own legislature.
In March 1968, under pressure from Equatorial Guinean nationalists and the United Nations, Spain announced that it would grant independence to Equatorial Guinea. A constitutional convention produced an electoral law and draft constitution. In the presence of a UN observer team, a referendum was held on August 11, 1968, and a new constitution was approved. In September 1968, the first president was elected, and independence was granted in October.
The United States immediately recognized Equatorial Guinea and moved to establish diplomatic relations. Albert W. Sherer, Jr., the ambassador to Togo, was additionally accredited as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Equatorial Guinea on October 28, 1968, and presented his credentials to the president on November 21. Sherer remained resident at Lomé, Togo.
An embassy in Santa Isabel (now Malabo) was opened August 1, 1969, with Albert N. Williams as chargé d'affaires ad interim.
In December 1969 the ambassador to Cameroon was accredited to Equatorial Guinea while resident in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The embassy in Malabo was closed in 1995 and its functions were transferred to the embassy in Cameroon. The embassy was reopened in 2004.
U.S. diplomatic terms |
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Career FSO 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 to remain in office. 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. Ad interim Latin phrase meaning "for the time being", "in the meantime". |
Name | Title | Appointed | Presented credentials | Terminated mission | Notes |
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Albert W. Sherer Jr. – Career FSO [1] [2] [3] | Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | September 13, 1967 | October 13, 1967 | March 5, 1970 | Beginning in 1969 one ambassador, resident in Yaoundé, was accredited to Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. |
Lewis Hoffacker – Career FSO | December 2, 1969 | January 21, 1970 | Left Yaoundé June 6, 1972 | ||
C. Robert Moore – Career FSO | September 25, 1972 | January 9, 1973 | Left Yaoundé July 28, 1975 | ||
Herbert J. Spiro – Political appointee | July 24, 1975 | September 1, 1975 | March 14, 1976. | Declared persona non grata by government of Equatorial Guinea. After the ambassador was rejected by the government of Equatorial Guinea, the post was vacant until 1979. | |
Mabel Murphy Smythe – Political appointee | December 17, 1979 | December 19, 1979 | Left Yaoundé February 24, 1980 | ||
Hume A. Horan – Career FSO [4] [5] | June 30, 1980 | August 14, 1980 | September 29, 1981 | In 1981 the first ambassador was appointed solely accredited to Equatorial Guinea. | |
Alan M. Hardy – Career FSO | October 26, 1981 | November 19, 1981 | June 26, 1984 | ||
Francis Stephen Ruddy – Political appointee | October 5, 1984 | January 27, 1985 | March 25, 1988 | ||
Chester E. Norris, Jr. – Career FSO | February 5, 1988 | March 15, 1988 | April 18, 1991 | ||
John E. Bennett – Career FSO [6] | July 2, 1991 | September 5, 1991 | February 25, 1994 | Embassy Malabo was closed October 31, 1995. Its functions were transferred to the embassy in Yaoundé November 1, 1995. The ambassador to Cameroon was also accredited to Equatorial Guinea while resident in Yaoundé. | |
Charles H. Twining – Career FSO | December 19, 1995 | May 16, 1996 | Left Yaoundé August 17, 1998 | ||
John Melvin Yates – Career FSO | October 22, 1998 | February 4, 1998 | Left Yaoundé November 4, 2001 | ||
George McDade Staples – Career FSO | September 5, 2001 | January 24, 2002 | Left Yaoundé, July 10, 2004 | The embassy in Malabo was reopened in 2004 with the ambassador solely accredited to Equatorial Guinea. | |
R. Niels Marquardt – Career FSO | July 2, 2004 | October 29, 2004 | September 26, 2006 | ||
Donald C. Johnson – Career FSO | September 22, 2006 | November 23, 2006 | November 1, 2008 | ||
Alberto M. Fernandez – Career FSO | December 29, 2009 | March 11, 2010 | March 18, 2012 | ||
Mark L. Asquino – Career FSO | July 5, 2012 | October 4, 2012 | September 18, 2015 | ||
Julie Furuta-Toy – Career FSO | October 26, 2015 | February 11, 2016 | February 25, 2019 | ||
Susan N. Stevenson – Career FSO | January 2, 2019 | April 11, 2019 | January 25, 2022 | ||
David R. Gilmour – Career FSO | December 18, 2021 | May 22, 2022 | Incumbent |
Equatorial Guinea, also rarely known as Equatoguinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, is a country on the west coast of Central Africa, with an area of 28,000 square kilometres (11,000 sq mi). Formerly the colony of Spanish Guinea, its post-independence name refers to its location near both the Equator and the Gulf of Guinea. As of 2021, the country had a population of 1,468,777.
The History of Equatorial Guinea is marked by centuries of colonial domination by the Portuguese, British and Spanish colonial empires, and by the local kingdoms.
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is located in west central Africa. Bioko Island lies about 40 kilometers (24.9 mi) from Cameroon. Annobón Island lies about 595 kilometres (370 mi) southwest of Bioko Island. The larger continental region of Río Muni lies between Cameroon and Gabon on the mainland; it includes the islands of Corisco, Elobey Grande, Elobey Chico, and adjacent islets. The total land area is 28,051 km2 (10,831 sq mi). It has an Exclusive Economic Zone of 303,509 km2 (117,185 sq mi).
The politics of Equatorial Guinea take place in a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President is both the head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Chamber of People's Representatives
Malabo is the capital of Equatorial Guinea and the province of Bioko Norte. It is located on the north coast of the island of Bioko. In 2018, the city had a population of approximately 297,000 inhabitants.
Equatorial Guinea's culture has been less documented than most African countries, and commercial recordings remain scarce.
Equatorial Guinea is divided into two regions and eight provinces. The newest province is Djibloho, created in 2017 with its headquarters at Ciudad de la Paz, the country's future capital.
Spanish Guinea was a set of insular and continental territories controlled by Spain from 1778 in the Gulf of Guinea and on the Bight of Bonny, in Central Africa. It gained independence in 1968 as Equatorial Guinea.
Articles related to Equatorial Guinea include:
SEGESA is the national electricity company of Equatorial Guinea, with its head offices in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. It is the sole operator of the electricity sector of Equatorial Guinea. The company was created in November 2001 by a merger of the national rural electrification company SONER and the national electricity corporation ENERGE. In 2013 the company was reorganized into three units: SEGESA Comercial for distribution and sales, SEGESA Generación for generation activities and SEGESA Transmisión for transmission. The three units are overseen by SEGESA Holding.
Albert William Sherer Jr. was an American diplomat.
According to Article 3 of the Constitution of Equatorial Guinea, the country is divided for administrative and economic purposes into regions, provinces, districts, and municipalities. In practice, the provinces serve as the first-level administrative divisions. Municipalities are subdivided into village councils and neighbourhood communities. Many of the sub-municipal entities are grouped into urban districts, which remain subordinate to municipalities and are distinct from districts proper.
The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Equatorial Guinea is a minority church in Equatorial Guinea. It is reformed by its theology and presbyterian by its form of government, as stated in its constitution. The principal religion in Equatorial Guinea is Christianity, with approximately 85–93% of the population as followers. Most Christians belong to the Roman Catholic Church (80–87%) while a minority are Protestants (5–7%). Another 5% of the population follow indigenous beliefs, 2% are Muslims, followers of Baha'i and other beliefs.
Equatorial Guinea–Spain relations refers to the diplomatic relations between Equatorial Guinea and Spain. Both nations are members of the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language, Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.
Equatorial Guinea–Mexico relations are the diplomatic relations between the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the United Mexican States. Both nations are members of the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language, Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.
Equatorial Guinea–Israel relations are the bilateral relations between the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the State of Israel. The Israeli embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon, is accredited to Equatorial Guinea. Equatorial Guinea has a resident embassy in Israel, which opened in 2019 and located in Herzliya.
David R. Gilmour is an American diplomat who is serving as the United States Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea since 2022.