List of ambassadors of the United States to Rwanda

Last updated

Ambassador of the United States to Rwanda
US Department of State official seal.svg
Seal of the United States Department of State
Eric Kneedler, U.S. Ambassador.jpg
Incumbent
Eric W. Kneedler
since October 3, 2023
NominatorThe President of the United States
Inaugural holder Charles D. Withers
as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
FormationMarch 9, 1963
Website U.S. Embassy – Kigali

The United States ambassador to Rwanda is the official representative of the president of the United States to the head of state of Rwanda.

Contents

Until 1962 Rwanda had been a part of the United Nations Trust Territory of Ruanda-Urundi under the trusteeship of Belgium. In June 1962 the UN General Assembly terminated the Belgian trusteeship and granted full independence to Rwanda and Burundi. The United States immediately recognized the Rwandan government on its independence day, July 1, 1962, and moved to establish diplomatic relations. The U.S. Embassy in the capital Kigali was established on July 1, 1962, with David J.S. Manbey as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. Charles D. Withers was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Rwanda on March 9, 1963. [1] [2]

Ambassadors and chiefs of mission

NameTitleAppointed Presented credentials Terminated missionNotes
Charles D. Withers – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMarch 9, 1963April 19, 1963September 15, 1966
Leo G. Cyr – Career FSOSeptember 19, 1966November 4, 1966September 29, 1971
Robert Foster Corrigan – Career FSODecember 9, 1971March 24, 1972August 3, 1973
Robert E. Fritts – Career FSOFebruary 28, 1974April 18, 1974June 18, 1976
T. Frank Crigler – Career FSOSeptember 16, 1976October 29, 1976May 12, 1979
Harry R. Melone, Jr. – Career FSONovember 6, 1979December 28, 1979August 17, 1982
John Blane – Career FSOSeptember 30, 1982November 9, 1982July 16, 1985
John Edwin Upston – Political appointeeDecember 17, 1985February 13, 1986July 14, 1987
Leonard H. O. Spearman – Political appointeeFebruary 5, 1988April 27, 1988November 10, 1990
Robert A. Flaten – Career FSOOctober 30, 1990December 17, 1990November 23, 1993
David P. Rawson – Career FSONovember 22, 1993January 8, 1994January 6, 1996
Robert E. Gribbin III – Career FSODecember 19, 1995January 10, 1996January 5, 1999
George McDade Staples – Career FSOOctober 26, 1998January 27, 1999September 22, 2001
Margaret K. McMillion – Career FSONovember 5, 2001December 13, 2001July 10, 2004
Michael R. Arietti – Career FSONovember 2, 2005December 5, 2005November 2, 2008
W. Stuart Symington [3] – Career FSOAugust 4, 2008November 3, 2008July 5, 2011
Donald W. Koran – Career FSOJuly 5, 2011October 10, 2011January 7, 2015
Erica Barks-Ruggles – Career FSODecember 15, 2014January 26, 2015March 15, 2018
Peter H. Vrooman – Career FSOFebruary 15, 2018April 7, 2018January 24, 2022
Deb MacLean - Career FSOChargé d'Affairs ad interimJanuary 24, 2022September 13, 2023
Eric W. Kneedler - Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJuly 27, 2023October 3, 2023

Notes

  1. ↑ "Background Note: Rwanda". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  2. ↑ "Rwanda". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  3. ↑ United States Embassy in Kigali: Ambassador

See also

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References

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