Summary
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.
| Ambassador of the United States to Equatorial Guinea | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the United States Department of State | |
| 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 |
History edit
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.
Ambassadors edit
| Name | Title | Appointed | Presented credentials | Terminated mission | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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, 1999 | 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 | September 30, 2021 | ||
| David R. Gilmour – Career FSO | December 18, 2021 | May 22, 2022 | Incumbent |
Notes edit
- ^ Sherer was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on February 7, 1969. A nomination of January 9, 1969, was withdrawn before the Senate acted upon it. Sherer was renominated January 31 and confirmed February 7, 1969.
- ^ Sherer was also accredited to Togo.
- ^ During Sherer’s tenure as non-resident ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, the embassy in Santa Isabel (now Malabo) was opened August 1, 1969, with Albert N. Williams as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
- ^ Horan continued to serve as ambassador to Cameroon after resignation as ambassador to Equatorial Guinea.
- ^ During Horan’s tenure as non-resident ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, the embassy in Malabo was reestablished June 11, 1981 with Joanne Thompson as chargé d’affaires ad interim.
- ^ Farah, Douglas (May 14, 2001). "A Matter of 'Honor' In a Jungle Graveyard". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
See also edit
References edit
- United States Department of State: Background Notes on Equatorial Guinea
This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State. 2006
External links edit
- United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Equatorial Guinea
- United States Department of State: Equatorial Guinea
- United States Embassy in Malabo