List of ambassadors of the United States to Rwanda
The United States ambassador to Rwanda is the official representative of the president of the United States to the head of state of Rwanda.
| Ambassador of the United States to Rwanda | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the United States Department of State | |
| Nominator | The President of the United States |
| Inaugural holder | Charles D. Withers as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary |
| Formation | March 9, 1963 |
| Website | U.S. Embassy – Kigali |
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
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles D. Withers – Career FSO | Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | March 9, 1963 | April 19, 1963 | September 15, 1966 | |
| Leo G. Cyr – Career FSO | September 19, 1966 | November 4, 1966 | September 29, 1971 | ||
| Robert Foster Corrigan – Career FSO | December 9, 1971 | March 24, 1972 | August 3, 1973 | ||
| Robert E. Fritts – Career FSO | February 28, 1974 | April 18, 1974 | June 18, 1976 | ||
| T. Frank Crigler – Career FSO | September 16, 1976 | October 29, 1976 | May 12, 1979 | ||
| Harry R. Melone, Jr. – Career FSO | November 6, 1979 | December 28, 1979 | August 17, 1982 | ||
| John Blane – Career FSO | September 30, 1982 | November 9, 1982 | July 16, 1985 | ||
| John Edwin Upston – Political appointee | December 17, 1985 | February 13, 1986 | July 14, 1987 | ||
| Leonard H. O. Spearman – Political appointee | February 5, 1988 | April 27, 1988 | November 10, 1990 | ||
| Robert A. Flaten – Career FSO | October 30, 1990 | December 17, 1990 | November 23, 1993 | ||
| David P. Rawson – Career FSO | November 22, 1993 | January 8, 1994 | January 6, 1996 | ||
| Robert E. Gribbin III – Career FSO | December 19, 1995 | January 10, 1996 | January 5, 1999 | ||
| George McDade Staples – Career FSO | October 26, 1998 | January 27, 1999 | September 22, 2001 | ||
| Margaret K. McMillion – Career FSO | November 5, 2001 | December 13, 2001 | July 10, 2004 | ||
| Michael R. Arietti – Career FSO | November 2, 2005 | December 5, 2005 | November 2, 2008 | ||
| W. Stuart Symington[3] – Career FSO | August 4, 2008 | November 3, 2008 | July 5, 2011 | ||
| Donald W. Koran – Career FSO | July 5, 2011 | October 10, 2011 | January 7, 2015 | ||
| Erica Barks-Ruggles – Career FSO | December 15, 2014 | January 26, 2015 | March 15, 2018 | ||
| Peter H. Vrooman – Career FSO | February 15, 2018 | April 7, 2018 | January 24, 2022 | ||
| Deb MacLean - Career FSO | Chargé d'Affairs ad interim | January 24, 2022 | September 13, 2023 | ||
| Eric W. Kneedler - Career FSO | Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | July 27, 2023 | October 18, 2023 |
Notes
- "Background Note: Rwanda". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
- "Rwanda". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
- United States Embassy in Kigali: Ambassador
See also
References
External links
- United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Rwanda
- United States Department of State: Rwanda
- United States Embassy in Kigali
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