AFRICAN HEADS OF STATE

 ALGERIA

Official Language: Arabic

Capital: Algiers

Government:  Republic

Independence: France 1962 

Head of State: Pres. Abdelaziz Bouteflikai 1999

Ambassador to USA:  Abdallah Baali 2008

US Ambassador: David D. Pearce 2008

ANGOLA

Official Language: Portuguese

Capital: Luanda

Government: Republic

Independence: Portugal 1975

Head of State: Pres. Jose Eduardo dos Santos 1979

Ambassador to USA: Josefina Pitra Diakite 2001

US Ambassador: Christopher J. Mullen 2010

BENIN

Official Language: French

Capital: Porto Novo

Government: Republic under multiparty democratic rule

Independence: France 1960

Head of State: Pres Thomas Yayi Boni 2006

Ambassador to USA: Seybe C. Oguin   2001

US Ambassador:  James knight 2007

BOTSWANA

Official Language: English

Capital: Gaborone

Government:  Parliamentary

Independence: UK 1966

Head of State:  Pres Seretse Khama Ian Khana 2008

Ambassador to USA: Tebelelo Seretse 2011

US Ambassador: Stephen J. Nolan 2008

BURKINA FASO

Official Language: French

Capital: Ouagadougou

Government: Republic

Independence: France 1960

Head of State: Pres. Blaise Campaore 1987

Ambassador to USA: Paramangu Ernest Yonli 2008

US Ambassador: Thomas Dougherty 2010

BURUNDI

Official Language: French, Kirundi, Swahili

Capital: Bujumbura

Government: Republic

Independence: Belgium 1962

Head of State:  Pres. Pierre Nkurunziza 2005

Ambassador to USA: Angele Niyuhire 2009

US Ambassador: Pamela Jo H. Slutz 2009

CAMEROON

Official Language: French and English

Capital: Yaoundé

Government: Republic

Independence: France & UK 1961

Head of State: Pres. Paul Biya 1982

Ambassador to USA:  Joseph Foe-Atangana 2008

US Ambassador: Robert P. Jackson 2011

CANARY ISLANDS

Official Language: Spanish

Capital: Las Palmas & Santa Cruz

Government: Parliamentary

Independence: Spain 1993

Head of State: Pres. Paulino Rivero Baute 2007

Ambassador to USA: None

US Ambassador: None

CAPE VERDE

Official Language: Portuguese and Creole

Capital: Praia

Government: Republic

Independence: Portugal 1975

Head of State: Pres. Pedro Verona Rodriguez Pires 2001

Ambassador to USA: Maria de Fatima Lima da Veiga 2007

US Ambassador: Dana Brown - Charge d’Affaires 2010

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Official Language: Sango and French

Capital: Bangui

Government: Republic

Independence: France 1960

Head of State:  Pres.  Francois Bozize 2003

Ambassador to USA: Stanislas Moussa-Kembe 2009

US Ambassador: Laurence D. Wohlers 2010

CHAD

Official Language: French

Capital: N’Djamena

Government: Republic

Independence: France 1960

Head of State:  Pres. Idriss Deby Itno 1990

Ambassador to USA: Mahamoud A. Bechir 2004

US Ambassador: Mark Boulware 2010

COMOROS

Official Language: Comorian, Arabic and French

Capital: Moroni

Government: Republic

Independence: France 1975

Head of State: Pres. Ahmed Abdallah Sambi 2006

Ambassador to USA: Mohamed Toihiri   2007

US Ambassador: Eric Stromayer –DCM 2008 (3)

CONGO   (Democratic Republic of – formerly Zaire)

Official Language: French

Capital: Kinshasa

Government: Republic

Independence: Belgium 1960

Head of State: Pres. Joseph Kabila 2001

Ambassador to USA: Faida Mitifu 2000

US Ambassador: James Entwistle -2010

CONGO (Republic of the Congo)

Official Language: French

Capital: Brazzaville

Government: Republic

Independence: France 1960

Head of State: Pres. Denis Sasson Nguesso 1997

Ambassador to USA: Serge Sasou-Moubouli 2001

US Ambassador:  Christopher W. Murray 2010

COTE D’IVORE (Ivory Coast)

Official Language: French

Capital: Abidjan

Government: Republic

Independence: France 1960

Head of State: Pres. Alassane Ouatfara 2010

Ambassador to USA: Yao Charles Koffi 2007

US Ambassador:  Phillip Carter 2010

DJIBOUTI

Official Language: Arabic and French

Capital: Djibouti

Government: Republic

Independence: France 1992

Head of State: Pres. Ismail Omar Guelleh 1999

Ambassador to USA: Roble Olhaye 1988   (Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in DC)

US Ambassador: James C. Swan 2008

EGYPT

Official Language: Arabic

Capital: Cairo

Government: Republic

Independence: UK 1922

Head of State: Resigned Feb 2011

Ambassador to USA: Sameh Shoukry 2008

US Ambassador:  Margaret Scobey 2008

EQUITORIAL GUINEA

Official Language: Spanish

Capital: Malabo

Government: Republic

Independence: Spain 1968

Head of State: Col. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo 1982

Ambassador to USA: Purificacion A. Ondo 2005

US Ambassador:  Alberto M. Fernandez 2010

ERITREA

Official Language:  Arabic

Capital: Asmara

Government: Republic

Independence: 1941 Italy, 1993 Ethiopia 

Head of State: Pres Isasias Afwerki 1993

Ambassador to USA: Ghirmai Ghebremariam 2006

US Ambassador:  Ronald K. McMullen 2007

ETHIOPIA

Official Language: Amharic

Capital: Addis Ababa

Government: Federal Republic

Independence: 1137 Admin, 1944 UK

Head of State: Pres Girma Wolde-Giorgis 2001

Ambassador to USA: Girma Birru 2011

US Ambassador: Donald E. Booth 2009

GABON

Official Language: French

Capital: Libreville

Government: Republic

Independence: France 1960

Head of State: Pres. Ali Bongo Ondimba 2009

Ambassador to USA: Carlos Boungou 2008

US Ambassador:  Eric Benjaminson 2010 (1)

GAMBIA

Official Language: English

Capital: Banjul

Government: Republic

Independence: UK 1965

Head of State: Pres. Capt. Yahya Jammeh 1994

Ambassador to USA: vacant

US Ambassador: Pamela A. White 2011

GHANA

Official Language: English

Capital: Accra

Government: Democracy

Independence: UK 1957

Head of State: Pres. John Atta Mills 2009

Ambassador to USA: Daniel O. Agyekum 2010

US Ambassador: Donald Teitelbaum 2008

GUINEA-BISSAU

Official Language: Portuguese

Capital: Bissau

Government: Republic

Independence: Portugal 1974

Head of State:  Pres. Malam Bacai Sanha 2009

Ambassador to USA:  Paulo Silva 2010

US Ambassador: Marcia S. Bernicat   2008 (2)

GUINEA

Official Language: French

Capital: Conakry

Government: Republic

Independence: France 1958

Head of State:  Pres. Alpha Conde 2010

Ambassador to USA:  Mory Karemoko Kaba 2007

US Ambassador: Patricia N. Moller 2009

KENYA

Official Language: Kiswahili and English

Capital: Nairobi

Government: Republic

Independence: UK 1963

Head of State: Pres. Mwai Kibaki 2002

Ambassador to USA:  Elkanah Odembo 2010

US Ambassador:  Scott Graton 2011 (5)

LESOTHO

Official Language: Sesotho and English

Capital: Maseru

Government: Parliamentary System and Constitutional Monarchy

Independence: UK 1966

Head of State: King Letsie III 1987

                         Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili   2007

Ambassador to USA:  David Mohlomi Rantekoa 2008

US Ambassador: Michele T. Bond 2010

LIBERIA

Official Language: English

Capital: Monrovia

Government: Republic

Independence: United States   American Colonization Society (ACS) 1847

Head of State: Pres. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf 2006

Ambassador to USA: M. Nathaniel Barnes 2008

US Ambassador: Linda Thomas Greenfield 2008

LIBYA

Official Language: Arabic

Capital: Tripoli

Government: Military Dictatorship

Independence: Italy 1951

Head of State: Col Muammar Al-Quaddafi 1969

Ambassador to USA: Ali Suleiman Aujali 2009

US Ambassador: Gene A. Cretz    2008

MADAGASCAR

Official Language: Madagasy and French

Capital: Antananarivo

Government: Caretaker Government

Independence: France 1960

Head of State: Pres. Andry Rajoelina 2009

Ambassador to USA:  Vacant

US Ambassador: Eric Stromayer –DCM 2008 (3)

MALAWI

Official Language:  Chichewa and English

Capital: Lilongwe

Government:  Democracy

Independence: UK 1964

Head of State:  Pres.  Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika 2004

Ambassador to USA: Steve Matenje 2010

US Ambassador: Jeanine E. Jackson 2011

MALI

Official Language: French

Capital: Bamako

Government: Republic

Independence: France 1960

Head of State: Pres. Amadou Toumani Toure 2002

Ambassador to USA: Mamadou Traore 2010

US Ambassador: Gillian A. Milovanarie 2008

MAURITANIA

Official Language:  Arabic and French

Capital: Nouakchot

Government: Military rule based on Islam

Independence: Morocco 1960

Head of State: Pres. Muhammad Ould Abdel Aziz 2009

Ambassador to USA: Ambassador deported 2009

US Ambassador: Jo Ellen Powell 2010

MAURITIUS

Official Language: English and French

Capital:  Port Louis

Government: Republic

Independence: UK 1968

Head of State: Pres Anerood Jugnauth 2003

Ambassador to USA:  Somduth Soborum 2011

US Ambassador:  Mary Jo Wills 2010 (4)

MOROCCO

Official Language:  Arabic

Capital: Rabat

Government: Constitutional monarchy

Independence: France 1956

Head of State:  King Mohammed VI   1999

Ambassador to USA: Aziz Mekouar 2002

US Ambassador: Samuel L. Kaplan   2009

MOZAMBIQUE

Official Language: Portuguese

Capital: Maputo

Government: Republic

Independence: Portugal 1975

Head of State: Pres Armando Guebuza 2004

Ambassador to USA: Amelia Matos Sumbana 2009

US Ambassador:  Leslie V. Rowe 2010

NAMIBIA

Official Language: English

Capital: Windhoek

Government:  Republic

Independence: South Africa 1990

Head of State:   Pres Hifikepunye Pohamba 2005

Ambassador to USA: Martin Andjaba 2010

US Ambassador: Wanda L Nesbitt 2010

NIGER

Official Language: French

Capital:  Niamey

Government: Republic

Independence: France 1960

Head of State:  Pres Mahamadou Issoufou 2011

Ambassador to USA: Aminata D.M. Toure 2006

US Ambassador:  Bisa Williams 2010

NIGERIA

Official Language: English

Capital: Abuja

Government:  Republic

Independence:  UK 1960

Head of State:  Pres Goodluck Jonathan 2010

Ambassador to USA: Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye   2010

US Ambassador: Terence P. McCulley 2010

REUNION

Official Language: French

Capital: St. Denis

Government:  French territory

Independence: None

Head of State: Pres Jacques Chirac of France

Ambassador to USA: None

US Ambassador:  None

RWANDA

Official Language: French and Kinyarwanda

Capital: Kigali

Government: Republic

Independence: Belgian 1962

Head of State: Pres Paul Kagome   2000

Ambassador to USA: James Kimonyo   2007

US Ambassador: W. Stuart Symington 2005

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

Official Language: Portuguese

Capital: Sao Tome

Government: Republic

Independence: Portugal 1975

Head of State:  Pres Fradique de Menezes 2003

Ambassador to USA:  Ovidio M.B. Pequeno 2007

US Ambassador:  Eric Benjaminson 2010 (1)

SENEGAL

Official Language:  French

Capital: Dakar

Government: Republic

Independence: France 1960

Head of State: Pres Abdoulaye Wade 2003

Ambassador to USA: Fatou Danielle Diagne 2010

US Ambassador: Marcia S. Bernicat 2008 (2)

SEYCHELLES

Official Language:  Creole, English and French

Capital: Victoria

Government: Republic

Independence:  UK 1976

Head of State: Pres James Michel 2004

Ambassador to USA:  Ronald J. Jumeau 2007

US Ambassador: Mary Jo Wills 2010 (4)

SIERRA LEONE

Official Language: English

Capital: Freetown

Government: Constitutional democracy

Independence: Britain 1961

Head of State: Pres Ernest Koroma 2007

Ambassador to USA: Bockari K. Stevens 2008

US Ambassador: Michael S. Owens 2010

SOMALIA

Official Language: Somali and Arabic

Capital: Mogadishu

Government: Coalition

Independence: UK and Italy 1960

Head of State: Pres Sheikh S.S. Ahmad 2009

Ambassador to USA: No diplomatic relations since 1991

US Ambassador: Scott Graton 2011 (5)

SOUTH AFRICA

Official Language: English, Afrikaans, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sesotho, SiSwati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu

Capital:  Cape Town (legislative); Pretoria (administrative); Bloemfontein (judicial)

Government:  Republic

Independence:  UK 1934, White rule 1994

Head of State: Pres Jacob Zuma 2009

Ambassador to USA:  Welile Nhlapo 2007

US Ambassador: Donald Gips 2009

SOUTH SUDAN

Official Language: English, Arabic

Capital: Juda

Government:  Federal Presidential Democratic Republic

Independence: Sudan   2011

Head of State: Pres Salva Kiir Mayardit   2011

Ambassador to USA:  vacant

US Ambassador:  vacant

SUDAN

Official Language: Arabic

Capital: Khartoum

Government: Islamic totalitarian single party state

Independence: Egypt & UK 1956

Head of State: Pres Lt General Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir 1993

Ambassador to USA: Akec Khoc 2009

US Ambassador: Robert E. Whitehead Charge d’ Affaires 2009

SWAZILAND

Official Language: English and SiSwati

Capital: Lobamba (royal & legislative) and Mbabane (administrative)

Government: Absolute Monarchy

Independence: UK 1968

Head of State: King Mswati III 1986

Ambassador to USA: Abednigo Mandla Ntshangase 2010

US Ambassador: Earl Irving 2009

TANZANIA

Official Language: Kiswahili and English

Capital: Dodoma

Government: Republic

Independence: UK 1961

Head of State: Pres Jakaya Kikwete   2005

Ambassador to USA: Mwanidi Sinare Maajar 2010

US Ambassador: Alfonso E. Lenhardt 2009

TOGO

Official Language:  French

Capital: Lome

Government: Republic

Independence: France 1960

Head of State: Pres Faure Gnassingbe 2005

Ambassador to USA: Limbiye Kadangha Bariki 2009

US Ambassador: Patricia McMahon Hawkins 2009

TUNISIA

Official Language: Arabic

Capital: Tunis

Government: Republic

Independence: France 1957

Head of State: Pres Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali 1987

Ambassador to USA: Mohamed Salah Tekaya 2010

US Ambassador: Gordon Gray 2009

UGANDA

Official Language: English and Swahili

Capital: Kampala

Government: Republic

Independence: UK 1962

Head of State: Pres Yoweri Museveni 1986

Ambassador to USA: Perezi K. Kamunanwire 2006

US Ambassador:  Jerry P. Lanier 2009

WESTERN SAHARA

Official Language:  Arabic

Capital: None    largest city El Aaiun

Government: Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

Independence: None

Head of State: Pres Mohammed Abdelaziz 1976

Ambassador to USA: Is not recognized

US Ambassador:  Is not recognized

A territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

ZAMBIA (formerly Northern Rhodesia)

Official Language: English

Capital: Lusaka

Government: Republic

Independence: UK 1964

Head of State: Pres Rupiah Banda 2008

Ambassador to USA: Shelia Siwela 2010

US Ambassador: Mark Storella 2010

ZIMBABWE (formerly Southern Rhodesia)

Official Language: English

Capital: Harare

Government: Consociationalist Republic

Independence: UK 1965, from white rule 1980

Head of State: Pres Robert Gabriel Mugabe 1987

Ambassador to USA: Machivenyika T. Mapuranga 2005

US Ambassador: Charles A. Ray 2009

(1)   One Ambassador, resident in Libreville, Gabon is also accredited for Sao Tome

Principe.

(2)   One Ambassador, resident in Dakar, Senegal is also accredited for Guinea-Bissau 

(3)   One Ambassador, resident in Antananarivo, Madagascar is also accredited for   

          Comoros.

(4)   One Ambassador, resident in Port Louis, Mauritius is also accredited for Seychelles

(5)   Ambassador to Kenya has virtual presence in Somalia

The African Union (abbreviated AU in English and UA in its other official languages) is an intergovernmental organization consisting of 52 African states. Established on July 9, 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The most important decisions of the AU are made by the Assembly of the African Union, a semi-annual meeting of the heads of state and government of its member states. The AU's secretariat, the African Union Commission, is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During the February 2009 Union meeting headed by Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, it was resolved that the African Union Commission would become the African Union Authority.

All countries listed above are members except:

Canary Islands and Reunion

Suspended Members

Madagascar – suspended after 2009 Malagasy political crisis

Former Members  

Morocco - left the AU's predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), in 1984, when many of the other member countries supported the Sahrawi nationalist Polisario Front's Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Morocco's ally, Zaire, similarly opposed the OAU's admission of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, and the Mobutu regime boycotted the organization from 1984 to 1986.

African Union Mission -

Ambassador Amina Salum Ali
1919 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20006-3442
(202) 293-8006