Fergus Cochrane-Dyet (born 16 January 1965) is a British diplomat who served as High Commissioner to Zambia from April 2016 until August 2019, being succeeded by Nicholas Woolley.Change of British High Commissioner to the Republic of Zambia, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 8 July 2019 In 2011, while serving as High Commissioner to Malawi, he was declared persona non grata and expelled from the country because of controversial comments he made in a leaked diplomatic cable.
Education and career Cochrane-Dyet attended first Witham Hall prep school and then Felsted School in Essex, England from 1978 until 1983. He graduated from Durham University in 1987 with a degree in Anthropology.
Cochrane-Dyet has held diplomatic positions representing the British government in Afghanistan, Australia, Guinea, Indonesia, Libya, Nigeria, and Zambia. His first position as head of mission was as the British High Commissioner to the Seychelles from 2007 to 2009. In September 2009, he became the British High Commissioner to Malawi. After his expulsion from Malawi, he spent a year as Deputy Head of Mission in Helmand, Afghanistan. He was appointed British Ambassador to Liberia in 2013 and was replaced in April 2015.Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Liberia, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 25 November 2014 He was appointed High Commissioner to Zambia in February 2016Change of British High Commissioner to Zambia, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 11 February 2016 and took up the post when he presented his letter of credence to President Lungu on 21 April 2016.
Leaked diplomatic cable controversy In April 2011, the Malawian newspaper The Nation published an article quoting a leaked diplomatic telegram from Cochrane-Dyet in which he wrote that Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika was "becoming ever more autocratic and intolerant of criticism"."Malawi threatens to expel British high commissioner over leaked remarks", The Guardian, 2011-04-19. On 27 April, Malawi's government declared Cochrane-Dyet persona non grata and expelled him from the country."Malawi expels British ambassador", The Guardian, 2011-04-27. The United Kingdom responded by expelling Malawi's acting high commissioner, Ms. Flossie Chidyaonga."Britain expels Malawi ambassador in retaliation after envoy is ordered out", The Guardian, 2011-04-27. British aid to Malawi was also cut off.Abel Wezzi, "UK makes good on its threat: Aid to Malawi cut off" , Maravi Post, 2011-07-14.
In October 2011, Mutharika apologised for the expulsion of Cochrane-Dyet and lifted his ban from Malawi."Deported UK envoy, Sata no longer personae non grata in Malawi" , Maravi Post, 2011-10-14. Mutharika died in April 2012 and shortly afterward the British Foreign Secretary announced that a new high commissioner would be appointed., AFP via Google, 24 April 2012
Personal life and awards Cochrane-Dyet has been married to Susie since 1987, with three sons: James, Alex and William. He is currently enrolled at St Hugh's College, University of Oxford, reading for an MSc in African Studies, where he rows for the St Hugh's College Boat Club.
Cochrane-Dyet was appointed OBE "for services to British foreign policy" in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2015.
Notes
References COCHRANE-DYET, Fergus John, Who's Who 2014, A & C Black, 2014 (online edition, Oxford University Press, 2014)