This is a list of ambassadors from the United States to the Republic of Djibouti.
The area on the Horn of Africa on which Djibouti is situated had been under French control since 1885 as part of the protectorate of French Somaliland. The area was ruled by the Vichy (French) government from the fall of France in 1940 until December 1942, but Free French and the Allied forces recaptured Djibouti at the end of 1942. In 1957 the colony was given a large measure of self-government and became the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas. In a May 1977 referendum the populace chose independence from France. The Republic of Djibouti was established on June 27, 1977.
The United States immediately recognized the nation of Djibouti and moved to establish diplomatic relations. The embassy in Djibouti was established June 27, 1977, with Walter S. Clarke as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim pending the appointment of an ambassador. The first ambassador, Jerrold M. North, was appointed on September 26, 1980.
Ambassadors +NameTitleAppointedPresented credentialsTerminated missionNotesJerrold M. North – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySeptember 26, 1980October 27, 1980August 27, 1982Alvin P. Adams Jr. – Career FSOApril 28, 1983July 16, 1983August 20, 1985John Pierce Ferriter – Career FSOAugust 1, 1985September 30, 1985August 27, 1987 The post was vacant August 1987–September 1988. John E. McAteer served as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim during that period.Robert South Barrett IV – Career FSOJuly 11, 1988September 5, 1988April 18, 1991Charles R. Baquet III – Career FSOMarch 25, 1991October 10, 1991December 9, 1993Martin L. Cheshes – Career FSONovember 22, 1993January 19, 1994July 30, 1996 President Clinton’s nomination of Stanley Schrager of May 6, 1996, was withdrawn and he was not appointed. The post was vacant July 1996–January 1998. During that period the following officers served as Chargés d’Affaires ad interim: Joseph Philippe Gregoire (July–September 1996) and Terri Robl (September 1996–January 1998).Lange Schermerhorn – Career FSONovember 10, 1997January 26, 1998November 17, 2000Donald Y. Yamamoto – Career FSOSeptember 15, 2000December 9, 2000June 16, 2003Marguerita Dianne Ragsdale – Career FSODecember 12, 2003February 23, 2004July 6, 2006W. Stuart Symington – Career FSOAugust 18, 2006September 18, 2006May 31, 2008James C. SwanAugust 6, 2008November 10, 2008June 30, 2011Geeta PasiJuly 5, 2011September 12, 2011August 30, 2014Thomas P. Kelly IIIAugust 18, 2014October 13, 2014January 15, 2017Larry André Jr.November 20, 2017February 19, 2018January 20, 2021Jonathan PrattDecember 15, 2020February 22, 2021May 18, 2023Andrea TomaszewiczChargé d’AffairesMay 19, 2023June 9, 2023Mario FernandezJune 9, 2023October 2, 2023Christopher SnipesOctober 2, 2023October 17, 2024Cynthia KierschtAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 2, 2024October 17, 2024Incumbent
See also Djibouti – United States relations Foreign relations of Djibouti Ambassadors of the United States
References United States Department of State: Background notes on Djibouti
External links