List of ambassadors of Ethiopia to the United States

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Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United States of America
Emblem of Ethiopia
Incumbent
Fitsum Arega
since 10 April 2019
StyleHis Excellency
Residence2209 Wyoming Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.
AppointerThe President of Ethiopia
Inaugural holderBlatta Ephrem Tewolde Medhin
First Envoy
Ras Imru Haile Selassie
First Ambassador
Formation1943
Envoys Extraordinary
1949
Ambassadors Extraordinary
WebsiteEthiopian Embassy, Washington D.C.

The Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States is in charge of the

Ethiopian Embassy, Washington, D.C., Ethiopia's diplomatic mission to the United States
, The full and official title is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United States of America.

Fitsum Arega, who is also accredited to Canada and Mexico, is serving as the Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States since 10 April 2019, succeeding Kassa Tekleberhan in that post.

Duties

The position of ambassador to the United States is considered to be one of the most important jobs in the Ethiopian diplomatic service, along with the Ambassadors to

Permanent Representative to the United Nations.[1]

The ambassador's main duty is to present Ethiopian policies to the American government and people, and to report American policies and views to the Government of Ethiopia. He serves as the primary channel of communication between the two nations, and plays an important role in treaty negotiations.

The ambassador is the head of Ethiopia's consular service in the United States. As well as directing diplomatic activity in support of trade, he is ultimately responsible for

visa
services and for the provision of consular support to Ethiopian citizens in America. He also oversees cultural relations between the two countries.

History

U.S.-Ethiopian relations were established in 1903, after nine days of meetings in Ethiopia between Emperor

Fascist occupation
in 1935.

Italian conquest in 1935.[3]

But it was not until after Ethiopia's liberation from Italian occupation that Ethiopia would reciprocate by opening its own Legation in Washington, which it did on November 9, 1943, with

Envoy to the United States. In September 1949 the Ethiopian mission was raised to the status of Embassy, and the Envoy, Ras Imru Haile Selassie, became the first Ambassador.[4]

Sheridan-Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

The importance of the post was reflected by the careers of the ambassadors; amongst several other offices, five had served or would go on to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs, two had served as Mayor of Addis Ababa, and one, Mikael Imru, would eventually serve as Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Relations between Ethiopia and the United States continued after the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie by a military junta in a coup d'état in 1974, but were broken in June 1978. It was not until 1992 that another ambassador would be appointed.

Ambassador's residence

The ambassador's residence is located at 2209 Wyoming Avenue, N.W., in the

Colonial Revival-style building is designated as a contributing property to the Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The building previously served as the Dutch ambassador's residence
and the Ethiopian Embassy's chancery.

Heads of missions

Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary (1943-49)

No. Portrait Name Appointment Credentials received Termination of appointment
1
—
 Blatta Ephrem Tewolde Medhin November 9, 1943 December 20, 1943 March 27, 1945
2 Ras Imru Haile Selassie May 6, 1946 May 15, 1946 September 21, 1949

Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (from 1949)

No. Portrait Name Appointment Credentials received Termination of appointment
1
—
 Ras Imru Haile Selassie September 21, 1949 September 27, 1949 March 27, 1953
2
—
 Lij Yilma Deressa September 11, 1953 September 26, 1953 April 28, 1957
3
—
Bitwoded Zewde Gebrehiwot
 August 25, 1958 September 30, 1958 October 8, 1959
4 Lij Mikael Imru May 11, 1960 June 8, 1960 April 1, 1961
5
—
 Ato Berhanu Dinka April 28, 1961 May 23, 1961 June 15, 1965
6
—
Afe Negus Teshome Hailemariam
 August 25, 1965 August 25, 1965 October 19, 1968
7
—
 Dr Minasse Haile October 18, 1969 October 31, 1969 June 11, 1971
8
—
 Ato Kifle Wodajo April 26, 1972 May 15, 1972 April 10, 1975
9
—
 Ato Ayalew Mandefro November 4, 1977 November 22, 1977 June 4, 1978
—
—
 No ambassadorial relations
—
—
—
10
—
 Ato Berhane Gebre-Christos March 16, 1992 April 2, 1992 June 19, 2002
11
—
 Ato Kassahun Ayele March 26, 2002 June 19, 2002 January 9, 2006
12 Dr Samuel Assefa May 11, 2006 May 15, 2006 November 19, 2009
13
—
 Ato Girma Birru January 6, 2011 February 23, 2011 November 29, 2017
14
—
 Dr Kassa Teklebirhan December 8, 2017 January 24, 2018[5] December 24, 2018
15 Ato Fitsum Arega December 24, 2018[6] April 10, 2019 present

References

  1. ^ "Who is who of the top 5 Ethiopian diplomats?". Zenaddis. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  2. LNTS
    517. Treaty of Conciliation: 46 Stat. 2368, TS 799, 7 Bevans 665, 101 LNTS 529
  3. ^ Bahru Zewde, Pioneers of Change in Ethiopia (Oxford: James Currey, 2002), pp. 39f
  4. ^ "Diplomatic Representation for Federal Democratic Republic Of Ethiopia (Formerly Abyssinia)". US Department of State. United States Department of State. 5 March 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  5. ^ "The Newly - Appointed Ethiopian Ambassador Presented credentials to President Donald Trump" (PDF). Embassy of the FDRE to the United States of America.
  6. ^ "President Sahle-Work Appoints 20 Ambassadors". Fana Broadcasting Corporate. 24 December 2018.

Bibliography

Metaferia, Getachew (2009). Ethiopia and the United States: History, Diplomacy, and Analysis. New York: Algora Publishing. pp. 208.

ISBN 978-0875866468
.

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_ambassadors_of_Ethiopia_to_the_United_States&oldid=1171900130"