ALGERIA
Official Language: Arabic
Capital: Algiers
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1962
World Ranking: 146
Former Head of State: Abderrahmane Fares July-Sept 1962 -FLN
Ferhat Abbas Sept 1962-Sept 1963 -FLN
Ahmed Ben Bella 1963-1965 -FLN
Houari Boumediene 1965-1978 –Military/FLN
Rabah Bitat Dec 1978- Feb 1979 – FLN
Chadli Bendjedid 1979-1992 -FLN
Abdelmalek Benhabyles Jan 1992 -FLN
Mohamed Boudiaf Jan-Jun 1992 – PRS
Ali Kafi 1992-1994 –FLN
Liamine Zaroual 1994-1999 – Independent
Head of State: Pres. Abdelaziz Bouteflikai 1999 -FLN
Ambassador to USA: Madjid Bouguerra 2015
US Ambassador: Joan A. Polaschik 2014
ANGOLA
Official Language: Portuguese
Capital: Luanda
Government: Republic
Independence: Portugal 1975
World Ranking: 160
Former Head of State: Antonio Agostinho Neto 1975
Head of State: Pres. Jose Eduardo dos Santos 1979
Ambassador to USA: Agostinho Tavares da Silva Neto 2014
US Ambassador: Helen M. La Lime 2014
BENIN
Official Language: French
Capital: Porto Novo
Government: Republic under multiparty democratic rule
Independence: France 1960
World Ranking: 113
Former Head of State: Coutoucou Hubert Maga, 1960 Deposed in a coup d’état
General Christophe Soglo Mil 1st Term 1963
Sourou-Migan Apithy, President 1964 Forced to resign by Gen. Christophe Soglo
Justin Ahomadegbe-Tometin –Acting Pres 1965 1st Term
Tahirou Congacou, acting President 1965
General Christophe Soglo Mil 2nd Term 1965
Jean-Baptiste Hackeme, Mil 1967
Lieutenant-Colonel Iropa Maurice Kouandété, Head of State Mil 1967 1st Term
Alphonse Amadou Alley, Head of State Mil 1967
Emile Derlin Henri Zinsou, Pres 1968 Military regime; Deposed in a coup d’état
Major Iropa Maurice Kouandete, Head of State Mil 1969 2nd Term coup d’état
Paul Emile de Souza Mil 1969
Major Coutoucou Hubert Maga 1970 2nd Term; Presidential Council formed after
Presidential elections abandoned
Justin Ahomadegbe-Tometin 1972 2nd Term; Deposed in a coup d’état
Major Mathieu Kérékou, President 1972 Mil/PRPB 1st Term
General Mathieu Kérékou, President, 1990 1st Term
Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo, President 1991
General Mathieu Kérékou, President 1996 2nd Term
Head of State: Pres Dr. Thomas Yayi Boni 2006
Ambassador to USA: Omar Arouna 2014
US Ambassador: Mike Raynor 2012
BOTSWANA
Official Language: English
Capital: Gaborone
Government: Parliamentary
Independence: UK 1966
World Ranking: 27
Former Head of State: Seretse Khama 1966
Quett Masire 1980
Festus Mogae 1998
Head of State: Pres Seretse Khama Ian Khama 2008
Ambassador to USA: David J. Newman 2015
US Ambassador: Earl Robert Miller 2014
BURKINA FASO (Former Republic of Upper Volta)
Official Language: French
Capital: Ouagadougou
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1960
World Ranking: 98
Former Head of State: Maurice Yaméogo 1960 Deposed in a coup d’état
Sangoulé Lamizana 1966 Mil Deposed in a coup d’état
Saye Zerbo 1980 Mil Deposed in a coup d’état
Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo 1982 Mil Deposed in a coup d’état
Thomas Sankara 1983 Mil Murdered in a coup d’état
Blaise Compaoré 1987Mil Resigned during the 2014 Burkinabé uprising
Yacouba Isaac Zida 2014 Mil
Head of State: Pres. Michel Kafando, Head of State of the Transition 2014
Ambassador to USA: Seydou Bouda 2011
US Ambassador: Tulinabo Mushingi 2013
BURUNDI
Official Language: French, Kirundi, Swahili
Capital: Bujumbura
Government: Republic
Independence: Belgium 1962
World Ranking: 14
Former Head of State: André Muhirwa, 1962 Prime Minister
Pierre Ngendandumwe 1963 Prime Minister 1st Term
Albin Nyamoya 1964 Prime Minister 1st Term
Pierre Ngendandumwe 1965 Prime Minister 2nd Term; Assassinated
Joseph Bamina 1965 Prime Minister Executed 15 December 1965
Prince Léopold Biha, 1965 Prime Minister Removed from office by King Ntare V
Michel Micombero, 1966 Prime Minister Deposed King Ntare V to become Pres.
Michel Micombero, 1966 President Mil Deposed in a coup d’état
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza 1976 President Mil Deposed in a coup d’état
Pierre Buyoya 1987 President Mil 1st Term
Melchior Ndadaye, 1993 President Assassinated in an attempted coup d’état
François Ngeze 1993 Mil In rebellion
Sylvie Kinigi 1993 Acting President
Cyprien Ntaryamira 1994 President Assassinated
Pierre Buyoya, 1996 President 2nd Term
Domitien Ndayizeye, 2003 President
Head of State: Pres. Pierre Nkurunziza 2005
Ambassador to USA: Ernest Ndabshinze 2014
US Ambassador: Dawn Liberi 2012
CAMEROON
Official Language: French and English
Capital: Yaoundé
Government: Republic
Independence: France & UK 1961
World Ranking: 136
Former Head of State: Ahmadou Ahidjo, 1960
Head of State: Pres. Paul Biya 1982
Ambassador to USA: Joseph Foe-Atangana 2008
US Ambassador: Michael Hoza 2014
CANARY ISLANDS
Official Language: Spanish
Capital: Las Palmas & Santa Cruz
Government: Parliamentary
Independence: Spain 1993
World Ranking: Not Ranked
Former Head of State: Manuel Antonio Hermoso Rojas 1993
Roman Rodriguez Rodriguez 1999
Adan Martin Menis 2003
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
World Ranking: 60
Former Head of State: Aristides Maria Pereira, 1975
António Mascarenhas Monteiro, 1991
Pedro Verona Rodrigues Pires, 2001
Head of State: Pres. Jorge Carlos Fonseca, 2011
Ambassador to USA: Spencer Lopes 2014
US Ambassador: Adrienne S. O’Neal 2014
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Official Language: Sango and French
Capital: Bangui
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1960
World Ranking: 161
Former Head of State: David Dacko 1960
Jean-Bedol Bokassa 1966
Salah Ahmed Bokassa Emperior 1976 Changed to Muslim and change his name
David Dacko 1979
Andre Kolingba 1981
Ange-Felix Patasse 1993
Francois Bozize 2003
Head of State: Pres. Catherine Samba-Panza 2014 Interim
Ambassador to USA: Stanislas Moussa-Kembe 2009
US Ambassador: David Brown, Charge d’Affaires 2014
CHAD
Official Language: French
Capital: N’Djamena
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1960
World Ranking: 167
Former Head of State: François Tombalbaye, 1960
N’Garta Tombalbaye 1973
Noël Milarew Odingar 1975 Mil
Félix Malloum N’Gakoutou 1975 Mil Resigned
Goukouni Oueddei, 1979 1st Term
Lol Mahamat Choua, 1979
Goukouni Oueddei 1979 2nd Term Deposed in a coup d’état
Hissène Habré, 1982
Head of State: Pres. Idriss Deby Itno 1990
Ambassador to USA: Hassane Mahamat Nasser 2014
US Ambassador: James Knight 2013
COMOROS
Official Language: Comorian, Arabic and French
Capital: Moroni
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1975
World Ranking: 142
Former Head of State: Ahmed Abdallah, 1975 1st Term
Said Mohamed Jaffar, 1975
Ali Soilih, 1976 Deposed in a coup d’état
Said Atthoumani, 1978
Ahmed Abdallah, 1978 2nd Term Assassinated
Mohamed Ahmed, 1978
Haribon Chebani 1989 Deposed in a coup d’état
Said Mohamed Djohar, 1989 1st Deposed in a coup d’état
Combo Ayouba 1995
Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim 1995 1st Term
Said Ali Kemal 1995
Caabi El-Yachroutu Mohamed 1995
Said Mohamed Djohar 1996 2nd Term
Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim 1996 2nd Term died in office
Tadjidine Ben Said Massounde 1998 Deposed in a coup d’état
Azali Assoumani, 1999 1st Term
Hamada Madi Bolero 2002
Azali Assoumani, 2002 2nd Term
Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi 2006
Head of State: Pres. Ikililou Dhoinine 2011
Ambassador to USA: Solih Mohamed Solih 2014
US Ambassador: Robert T. Yamate 2014 (3)
CONGO, Democratic Republic of (Formerly Zaire)
Official Language: French
Capital: Kinshasa
Government: Republic
Independence: Belgium 1960
World Ranking: 172
Former Head of State: Joseph Kasavubu 1960 Deposed in a coup d’état
Joseph-Désiré Mobutu 1964 Deposed in a coup d’état
Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, 1965 Mil
Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, 1971 Changed name to Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko, 1972 Deposed at the end of the First Congo War
Laurent-Désiré Kabila 1997 Assassinated
Head of State: Pres. Joseph Kabila Kabange 2001
Ambassador to USA: Faida Mitifu 2000
US Ambassador: James Swam -2013
CONGO, Republic of the
Official Language: French
Capital: Brazzaville
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1960
World Ranking: 169
Former Head of State: Abbé Fulbert Youlou, 1960
David Moussaka, 1963 Mil
Félix Mouzabakani 1963 Mil
Alphonse Massamba-Débat 1963 Deposed
Augustin Poignet 1968
Alphonse Massamba-Débat 1968 Restored; Deposed in a coup d’état
Major Marien Ngouabi, 1968 Mil 1st Term
Major Alfred Raoul, 1968 Mil
Major Marien Ngouabi 1969 Mil 2nd Term; Assassinated
Colonel Joachim Yhombi-Opango 1977 Mil
Denis Sassou-Nguesso 1977 Mil
Louis Sylvain Goma 1977 Mil
Raymond Damase Ngollo 1977 Mil
Martin Mbia 1977 Mil
Pascal Bima 1977 Mil
Nicolas Okongo 1977 Mil
François Xavier Katali 1977 Mil
Florent Ntsiba 1977 Mil
Pierre Anga 1977 Mil
Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya 1979 Mil
Denis Sassou-Nguesso, 1979 1st Term
Pascal Lissouba 1992 Deposed in the Republic of the Congo Civil War
Head of State: Pres. Denis Sasson Nguesso 1997
Ambassador to USA: Serge Sasou-Moubouli 2001
US Ambassador: Stephanie Sullivan 2013
COTE D’IVORE, (Ivory Coast)
Official Language: French
Capital: Abidjan
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1960
World Ranking: 107
Former Head of State: Félix Houphouët-Boigny 1960 died in office
Henri Konan Bédié 1985 Deposed in a coup d’état
Robert Guéï 1999 Mil
Laurent Gbagbo 2000 Co-claimant from 4 December 2010 to
April 2011; Deposed in the Second Ivorian Civil War
Head of State: Pres. Alassane Ouatfara 2010
Ambassador to USA: Daouda Diabate 2011
US Ambassador: Terence McCulley 2013
DJIBOUTI
Official Language: Arabic and French
Capital: Djibouti
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1992
World Ranking: 118
Former Head of State: Hassan Gouled Aptido 1977
Head of State: Pres. Ismail Omar Guelleh 1999
Ambassador to USA: Roble Olhaye 1988 (Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in DC)
US Ambassador: Thomas Kelly 2014
EGYPT
Official Language: Arabic
Capital: Cairo
Government: Republic
Independence: UK 1922
World Ranking: 135
Former Head of State: Muhammad Naguib 1953 Mil
Gamal Abdel Nasser 1954 Mil died in office
Anwar Sadat 1970 (assassinated)
Sufi Abu Taleb 1981
Hosni Mubarak 1981 (resigned)
Mohamed Hussein Tantawi 2011 Mil
Mohamed Mors 2012 (Deposed)
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi 2013 Mil
Adly Mansour 2013
Head of State: Abdel Fattah el-Sisi 2014
Ambassador to USA: Mohamed M. Taufik 2012
US Ambassador: Robert Beecroft 2014
EQUITORIAL GUINEA
Official Language: Spanish
Capital: Malabo
Government: Republic
Independence: Spain 1968
World Ranking: 168
Former Head of State: Francisco Macías Nguema 1968
Masie Nguema Biyogo Ñegue Ndong 1976
Head of State: Col. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo 1979
Ambassador to USA: Miguel Ntutumu E. Andeme 2015
US Ambassador: Mark Asquino 2012
ERITREA
Official Language: Arabic
Capital: Asmara
Government: Republic
Independence: 1941 Italy, 1993 Ethiopia
World Ranking: 174
Former Head of State: N/A
Head of State: Pres Isasias Afwerki 1993
Ambassador to USA: Ghirmai Ghebremariam 2006
US Ambassador: Sue Bremner, Chargé d’Affaires 2012
ETHIOPIA
Official Language: Amharic
Capital: Addis Ababa
Government: Federal Republic
Independence: 1137 Admin, 1944 UK
World Ranking: 151
Former Head of State: Emperor Haile Selassie I 1930 (1st reign)
Victor Emmannel III 1936
Emperor Haile Selassie I 1941 (2nd reign)
Amha Selassie I 1974
Aman Mikael Andom 1974 Mil Deposed and assassinated
Mengistu Haile Mariam 1974 Mil fled the country at the end of the Ethiopian Civil War Tafari Benti 1974 Mil Assassinated at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Derg
Mengistu Haile Mariam 1977 Mil fled the country at the end of the Ethiopian Civil War
Tesfaye Gebre Kidan 1991
Meles Zenawi 1991
Dr. Negasso Gidada Solon 1995
Girma Wolde-Giorgis 2001
Head of State: Pres Mulatu Teshome 2013
Ambassador to USA: Girma Birru 2010
US Ambassador: Patricia Haslach 2013
GABON
Official Language: French
Capital: Libreville
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1960
World Ranking: 105
Former Head of State: Léon M’ba, 1960 1st Term; Deposed in a coup d’état
Daniel Mbene 1964 Mil
Valère Essone 1964 Mil
Jacques Mombo 1964 Mil
Daniel Mbo Edou 1964 Mil
Jean-Hilaire Aubame 1964 Mil
Léon M’ba, 1964 2nd Term; Restored; died in office
Albert-Bernard Bongo 1967
Omar Bongo 1973 Previously Albert-Bernard Bongo
El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba 2003 Previously Omar Bongo; died in office
Rose Francine Rogombé, 2009
Head of State: Pres. Ali Bongo Ondimba 2009 (Son of Omar Bongo)
Ambassador to USA: Michael Moussa-Adamo 2011
US Ambassador: Cynthia Akuetteh 2014 (1)
GAMBIA
Official Language: English
Capital: Banjul
Government: Republic
Independence: UK 1965
World Ranking: 92
Former Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II 1965
Dawda Jawara 1965 Prime Minister
Dawda Jawara 1970 President (Deposed)
Head of State: Pres. Dr. Yahya Jammeh 1994
Ambassador to USA: Sheikh Omar Faye, Chargé d’Affaires 2015
US Ambassador: Edward M. “Ned” Alford 2012
GHANA
Official Language: English
Capital: Accra
Government: Democracy
Independence: UK 1957
World Ranking: 66
Former Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II 1957
Kwame Nkrumah 1957 Prime Minister
Kwame Nkrumah 1960 President (Deposed)
Lt-Gen Joseph Ankrah 1966 Mil
Brigadier Akwasi Afrifa 1969 Mil
Nii Amaa Ollennu 1970
Edward Akufo-Addo 1970 (Deposed)
General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong 1972 Mil (Deposed)
Lieutenant-General Fred Akuffo 1978 Mil (Deposed)
Hilla Limann 1979 (Deposed)
Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings 1981 Mil
John Kufuor 2001
John Atta Mills 2009 (Died in Office)
Head of State: Pres. John Dramani Mahama 2012
Ambassador to USA: Joseph Henry Smith 2014
US Ambassador: Gene Cretz 2012
GUINEA
Official Language: French
Capital: Conakry
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1958
World Ranking: 133
Former Head of State: Ahmed Sékou Touré, 1958 President died in office
Louis Lansana Beavogui 1984 Deposed in a coup d’état
Lansana Conté 1984 Mil died in office
Aboubacar Somparé 2008 Deposed in a coup d’état
Moussa Dadis Camara 2008 Mil Incapacitated after an assassination attempt
Sékouba Konaté 2009
Head of State: Pres. Alpha Conde 2010
Ambassador to USA: Mamady Conde 2014
US Ambassador: Alexander Laskaris 2012
GUINEA-BISSAU
Official Language: Portuguese
Capital: Bissau
Government: Republic
Independence: Portugal 1974
World Ranking: 143
Former Head of State: Luís Cabral 1974 Deposed in a coup d’état
João Bernardo Vieira 1980 Mil 1st Term
Carmen Pereira, 1984 Acting President
João Bernardo Vieira 1984 Mil 2nd Term; Deposed in the Guinea-Bissau Civil War
Ansumane Mané 1999 Mil Acting President
Malam Bacai Sanhá, 1999 1st Term
Kumba Ialá 2000 Deposed in a coup d’état
Veríssimo Correia Seabra 2003 Mil
Henrique Rosa, 2003 Acting President
João Bernardo Vieira 2005 3rd Term; Assassinated
Raimundo Pereira, 2009 Acting President 1st Term
Malam Bacai Sanhá, 2009 President 2nd Term; Died in office
Raimundo Pereira, 2012 Acting President 2nd Term; Deposed in a coup d’état
Mamadu Ture Kuruma 2012 Mil
Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo, 2012 Acting President
Head of State: Pres. José Mário Vaz 2014
Ambassador to USA: Mario Lopes da Rosa 1998
US Ambassador: James P. Zumwalt 2015 (2)
KENYA
Official Language: Kiswahili and English
Capital: Nairobi
Government: Republic
Independence: UK 1963
World Ranking: 111
Former Head of State: Malcolm MacDonald (UK) 1963
Jomo Kenyatta 1963 Prime Minister
Jomo Kenyatta 1964 President -died in office in 1978
Daniel Arap Moi 1978 Acting President
Daniel Arap Moi 1979 President Stepped down in 2002
Mwai Kibaki 2002 President
Head of State: Pres. Uhuru Kenyatta 2013 (son of former President Jomo Kenyatta)
Ambassador to USA: Robinson Njeru Githae 2014
US Ambassador: Robert F. Godec 2013
LESOTHO
Official Language: Sesotho and English
Capital: Maseru
Government: Parliamentary System and Constitutional Monarchy
Independence: UK 1966
World Ranking: 154
Former Head of State: Leabua Jonathan 1965 Prime Minister
Justin Lekhanya 1986 Mil
Elias Phisoana Ramaema 1991 Mil
Ntsu Mokhehle 1993 Prime Minister (1st Term)
Hae Phoofolo 1994 Interim Prime Minister
Ntsu Mokhehle 1994 Prime Minister (2nd Term)
Pakalitha Mosisili 1998 Prime Minister
Head of State: King Letsie III 1987
Prime Minister Tom Thabane 2012
Ambassador to USA: Eliachim Molapi Sebatane 2012
US Ambassador: Matthew Harrington 2014
LIBERIA
Official Language: English
Capital: Monrovia
Government: Republic
Independence: United States American Colonization Society (ACS) 1847
World Ranking: 138
Former Head of State: Joseph Jenkins Roberts 1848
Stephen Allen Benson 1856
Daniel Bashiel Warner 1868
Edward James Roye 1870
James Skivring Smith 1871
Joseph Jenkins Roberts 1872
James Spriggs Payne 1876
Anthony W. Gardiner 1878
Alfred Francis Russell 1883
Hilary R. W. Johnson 1884
Joseph James Cheeseman 1892
William D. Coleman 1896
Garretson W. Gibson 1900
Arthur Barclay 1904
Daniel Edward Howard 1912
Charles D. B. King 1920
Edwin Barclay 1930
William Tubman 1944
William R. Tolbert, Jr 1971
Vacant 1980 -1986
Samuel Doe 1986
Vacant 1990-1997
Charles Taylor 1997
Moses Blah 2003
Vacant 2003-2006
Head of State: Pres. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf 2006
Ambassador to USA: Jeremiah C. Sulunteh 2012
US Ambassador: Deborah Malac 2012
LIBYA
Official Language: Arabic
Capital: Tripoli
Government: Military Dictatorship
Independence: Italy 1951
World Ranking: Not Ranked
Former Head of State: Idris I King of Lydia 1951-1969
Muammar Gaddafi 1969 Chair of the Revolutionary Command Council
Mustafa Abdul Jalil 2011 Chair of the National Transitional Council
Mohammed Ali Salim 2012 Acting Pres of the General National Congress
Mohammed Magariaf 2012 Pres of the General National Congress
Giuma Ahmed Atigha 2013 Acting Pres of the General National Congress
Nouri Abusahmain 2013 Pres of the General National Congress
Head of State: Abdullah al-Thani 2014 Prime Minister
Ambassador to USA: Wafa Bughaighi 2015
US Ambassador: Deborah Jones 2013
MADAGASCAR
Official Language: Madagasy and French
Capital: Antananarivo
Government: Multiparty Republic.
Independence: France 1960
World Ranking: 79
Former Head of State: Richard Ratsimandrava, 1975 Mil Assassinated
Gilles Andriamahazo 1975
Didier Ratsiraka 1993
Albert Zafy 1996 Resigned
Norbert Ratsirahonana 1997
Didier Ratsiraka 2002
Marc Ravalomanana, 2009 deposed in the 2009 crisis
Andry Rajoelina 2014
Head of State: Pres. Hery Rajaonarimampianina 2014
Ambassador to USA: Velotiana Raobeliana, Chargé d’Affaires 2014
US Ambassador: Robert Yamate 2014 (3)
MALAWI
Official Language: Chichewa and English
Capital: Lilongwe
Government: Democracy
Independence: UK 1964
World Ranking – 124
Former Head of State: Monarch Queen Elizabeth II 1964
Hastings Banda 1966
Bakili Muluzi 1994
Bingu wa Mutharika 2004 (died in office)
Joyce Banda 2012
Head of State: Pres. Peter Mutharika 2014
Ambassador to USA: Necton D. Mhura 2015
US Ambassador: Virginia E. Palmer 2015
MALI
Official Language: French
Capital: Bamako
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1960
World Ranking: 122
Former Head of State: Modibo Keita 1960
Moussa Traore 1968
Amadou Toumani Toure 1991
Alpha Oumar Konare 1992
Amadou Toumani Toure 2002
Amondou Sanogo 2012
Dioncounda Traore 2012
Head of State: Pres. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita 2013
Ambassador to USA: Tiéna Coulibaly 2014
US Ambassador: Mary Beth Leonard 2011
MAURITANIA
Official Language: Arabic and French
Capital: Nouakchott
Government: Military rule based on Islam
Independence: Morocco 1960
World Ranking: 134
Former Head of State: Moktar Ould Daddah 1960
Mustafa Ould Salek 1978
Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Louly 1979
Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla 1980
Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya 1984
Ely Ould Mohamed Vall 2005
Sidi Ould Cheikh Adallahi 2007
Muhammad Ould Abdel Aziz 2008
Ba Mamadou Mbare 2009 (First Black Leader)
Head of State: Pres. Muhammad Ould Abdel Aziz 2009
Ambassador to USA: Mohamed Lemine El Haycen 2010
US Ambassador: Larry Andre, Jr 2014
MAURITIUS
Official Language: English and French
Capital: Port Louis
Government: Republic
Independence: UK 1968
*World Ranking: 8
Former Head of State: Governor-General
Michel Laval Rivalland 1968
Arthur Leonard Williams 1968
Abdul Rahman Muhammad Osman 1972
William Henry Garrioch 1977
Dayendranath Burrenchobay 1978
Seewoosagur Ramgoolam 1983
Cassam Ismael Moollan 1985
Veerasamy Ringadoo 1986
President of the Republic
Veerasamy Ringadoo 1992
Cassam Uteem 1992-2002
Angidi Veeriah Chettiar 2002
Ariranga Govindasamy Pillay 2002
Karl Auguste Offmann 2002
Raouf Bundhun 2003
Anerood Jugnauth 2003
Kailash Purryag 2012
Head of State: President Ameenah gurib 2015
Ambassador to USA: Sooroojdev Phokeer 2015
US Ambassador: Shari Villarosa 2012 (4)
MOROCCO
Official Language: Arabic
Capital: Rabat
Government: Constitutional monarchy
Independence: France 1956
World Rank: 103
Former Head of State: King Mohammed V Reign 1955-1960
Ahmed Belafrej 1958
Abdallah Ibrahim 1958
King Hassan II Reign 1961-1999
Ahmed Bahnini 1963
Ahmed Taibi Benhima 1967
Ahmed Laraki 1969
Mohammed Karim Lamrani 1971
Ahmed Osman 1972
Maati Bouabid 1979
Mohammed Karim Lamrani (2nd time) 1983
Azzedine Laraki 1986
Mohammed Karim Lamrani (3rd time) 1992
Abdelatif Filali 1994
Abderrahman Youssoufi 1998
King Mohammed VI Reign 1999-
Driss Jettou 2002
Abbas El Fassi 2007
Head of State: Pres.Abdelilah Benkirane 2011
Ambassador to USA: Rachad Bouhlal 2011
US Ambassador: Dwight L Bush, Sr. 2014
MOZAMBIQUE
Official Language: Portuguese
Capital: Maputo
Government: Republic
Independence: Portugal 1975
World Ranking: 128
Former Head of State: Samora Moisés Machel, President 1975
Presidency suspended 1986
Political Bureau of the Central Committee of FRELIMO:-1986
Joaquim Chissano, President 1986
Armando Guebuza 2005
Head of State: Pres Filipe Nyusi 2015
Ambassador to USA: Amelia Matos Sumbana 2009
US Ambassador: Douglas M. Griffiths 2012
NAMIBIA
Official Language: English
Capital: Windhoek
Government: Republic
Independence: South Africa 1990
World Ranking: 94
Former Head of State: Sam Nujoma 1990
Hifikepunye Pohamba 2005
Head of State: Pres. Dr. Hage Geingob 2015
Ambassador to USA: Martin Andjaba 2010
US Ambassador: Thomas F. Daughton 2014
NIGER
Official Language: French
Capital: Niamey
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1960
World Ranking: 127
Former Head of State: Diori Hamani 1960
Seyni Koutche 1974
Ali Saibou 1987
Transitioned Gov pervaded by Prof Andre Salifon 1991
Mahamane Ousmane 1993
Ibrahim Bare Mainassara 1996
Tandja Maamdou 1999
Head of State: Pres Mahamadou Issoufou 2010
Ambassador to USA: Hassana Alidou 2015
US Ambassador: Eunice Reddick 2014
NIGERIA
Official Language: English
Capital: Abuja
Government: Republic
Independence: UK 1960
World Ranking: 129
Former Head of State: Monarchs (1960–1963) Queen Elizabeth II
Sir James Robertson 1960
President Nnamdi Azikiwe 1966 first republic (Deposed)
Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi 1966 Mil (Deposed)
General Yakubu Gowon 1975 Mil (Deposed)
General Murtala Mohammed 1975 Mil (Assassinated)
Major-General Olusegun Obasanjo 1979 Mil (Resigned)
President Shehu Shagari 1983 (Deposed)
Major-General Muhammadu Buhari 1985 Mil (Deposed)
General Ibrahim Babangida 1993 Mil (Resigned)
President Ernest Shonekan 1993 (Deposed)
General Sani Abacha 1998 Mil (Died in Office)
General Abdulsalami Abubakar 1999 Mil (Resigned)
President Olusegun Obasanjo 2007
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua 2010 (Died in Office)
President Goodluck Jonathan 2015
Head of State: President Muhammadu Buhari 2015
Ambassador to USA: Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye 2010
US Ambassador: James Entwistle 2013
REUNION
Official Language: French
Capital: Saint Denis
Government: French Territory
Independence: None
World Ranking: Not Ranked
Former Head of State: None
Head of State: Pres Francois Hollande of France
Ambassador to USA: None
US Ambassador: None
RWANDA
Official Language: French and Kinyarwanda
Capital: Kigali
Government: Republic
Independence: Belgian 1962
World Ranking: 65
Former Head of State: Gregoire Kayibanda 1962
Juvenal Habyarimana 1973
Theodore Sindikubwabo 1994
Pasteur Bizimungu 1994
Head of State: Pres Paul Kagame 2000
Ambassador to USA: Prof Mathilde Mukantabana 2013
US Ambassador: Erica J. Barks-Ruggles 2015
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
Official Language: Portuguese
Capital: Sao Tome
Government: Republic
Independence: Portugal 1975
World Ranking: 157
Former Head of State: Manuel Pinto da Costa 1975
Miguel Trovoada 1991
Fradique de Menezes 2001
Head of State: Pres Manuel Pinto da Costa 2011
Ambassador to USA: Ovidio M.B. Pequeno 2007
US Ambassador: Cynthia Akuetteh 2014 (1)
SENEGAL
Official Language: French
Capital: Dakar
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1960
World Ranking: 125
Former Head of State: Léopold Sédar Senghor 1960
Abdou Diouf 1981
Abdoulaye Wade 2000
Head of State: Pres Macky Sall 2012
Ambassador to USA: Babacar Diagne 2015
US Ambassador: James P. Zumwalt 2014 (2)
SEYCHELLES
Official Language: Creole, English and French
Capital: Victoria
Government: Republic
Independence: UK 1976
World Ranking: 117
Former Head of State: Sir James Mancham, 1976
France-Albert René, 1977
Head of State: Pres James Michel 2004
Ambassador to USA: Marie-Louise Cecile Potter 2015
US Ambassador: Shari Villarosa 2012 (4)
SIERRA LEONE
Official Language: English
Capital: Freetown
Government: Constitutional democracy
Independence: Britain 1961
World Ranking: 148
Former Head of State: Monarch Queen Elizabeth II (1961–1971)
Sir Maurice Henry Dorman 1962
Sir Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston 1967 (Deposed)
Brigadier Andrew Juxon-Smith 1968 Mil (Deposed)
Brigadier John Amadu Bangura 1968 Mil
Sir Banja Tejan-Sie 1971
President Christopher Okoro Cole 1971
President Siaka Stevens 1985
President Joseph Saidu Momoh 1992 (Deposed)
Captain Yahya Kanu 1992 Mil
Captain Valentine Strasser 1996 Mil
Brigadier Julius Maada Bio 1996 Mil
President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah 1997 (Deposed)
Major Johnny Paul Koroma 1998 Mil (Deposed)
President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah 2007
Head of State: Pres Ernest Bai Koroma 2007
Ambassador to USA: Bockari K. Stevens 2008
US Ambassador: John Hoover 2013
SOMALIA ©
Official Language: Somali and Arabic
Capital: Mogadishu
Government: Coalition
Independence: UK and Italy 1960
World Ranking: Not Ranked
Former Head of State: Aden Abdullah Osman Daar 1967
Abdirashid Ali Shermarke 1969
Sheikh Mukhtar Mohamed Hussein 1969
Mohamed Siad Barre 1991
Ali Mahdi Muhammad 1997 Mil
Vacant (3 January 1997–27 August 2000)
Abdiqasim Salad Hassan 2004
Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed 2008
Adan Mohamed Nuur Madobe 2009
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed 2012
Muse Hassan Sheikh Sayid Abdulle 2012
Mohamed Osman Jawari 2012
Head of State: Pres Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud 2012
Ambassador to USA: Omar Abdirashid Ali Shamarke 2014
US Ambassador: None – James McAnulty – Special Representative 2013
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
World Ranking: 75
Former Head of State: Nelson Mandela 1999
Thabo Mbeki 2008 (Resigned)
Kgalema Motlanthe 2009
Head of State: Pres Jacob Zuma 2009
Ambassador to USA: Mininwa Mahlangu 2015
US Ambassador: Patrick Hubert Gaspard 2013
SOUTH SUDAN
Official Language: English, Arabic
Capital: Juda
Government: Federal Presidential Democratic Republic
Independence: Sudan 2011
World ranking: Not Ranked
Former Heads of State: None
Head of State: Pres Salva Kiir Mayardit 2011
Ambassador to USA: Akec Khoc Aciew 2012
US Ambassador: Mary Catherine (Molly) Phee 2015
SUDAN
Official Language: Arabic
Capital: Khartoum
Government: Islamic totalitarian single party state
Independence: Egypt & UK 1956
World Ranking: Not Ranked
Former Head of State: Sovereignty Council Members: 1956- 1958
Abdel Fattah Muhammad al-Maghrabi
Muhammad Ahmad Yasin
Ahmad Muhammad Salih
Muhammad Othman al-Dardiri
Siricio Iro Wani
Ibrahim Abboud 1964 Mil
First Committee of Sovereignty Members:1965
Abdel Halim Muhammad
Tijani al-Mahi
Mubarak Shaddad
Ibrahim Yusuf Sulayman
Luigi Adwok Bong Gicomeho
Second Committee of Sovereignty Members: 1965
Ismail al-Azhari
Abdullah al-Fadil al-Mahdi
Luigi Adwok Bong Gicomeho
Abdel Halim Muhammad
Khidr Hamad
Ismail al-Azhari 1969
Democratic Republic of the Sudan (1969–1985)
Gaafar Nimeiry 1985
Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab 1986
Ahmed al-Mirghani 1989
Head of State: Omar al-Bashir 1989
Ambassador to USA: Maowia O. Khalid 2014
US Ambassador: Jerry Lanier, Chargé d’Affaires
SWAZILAND
Official Language: English and SiSwati
Capital: Lobamba (royal & legislative) and Mbabane (administrative)
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Independence: UK 1968
World Ranking: 82
Former Head of State: King Sobhuza II 1968-1982
Authorized Person and Regents during the minority of King Mswati III: 1986
Head of State: King Mswati III 1986-
Ambassador to USA: Abednigo Mandla Ntshangase 2010
US Ambassador: Makila James 2012
TANZANIA
Official Language: Kiswahili and English
Capital: Dodoma
Government: Republic
Independence: UK 1961
World Ranking: 106
Former Head of State-Monarch Queen Elizabeth II (1961–1962)
Julius Nyerere 1985
Ali Hassan Mwinyi 1995
Benjamin Mkapa 2005
Head of State: Pres Jakaya Kikwete 2005
Ambassador to USA: Her E. Liberata Mulamula – 2013
US Ambassador: Mark Childress 2014
TOGO
Official Language: French
Capital: Lome
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1960
World Ranking: 152
Former Head of State: Sylvanus Olympio 1963 Assassinated in a coup d’état
Nicolas Grunitzky1963 Deposed in a coup d’état
Étienne Eyadéma 1974 Mil – changed name to Gnassingbé Eyadéma
Gnassingbé Eyadéma, 2005 died in office
Head of State: Pres. Faure Gnassingbe 2005
Ambassador to USA: Limbiye Kadangha Bariki 2009
US Ambassador: Robert E. Whitehead 2012
TUNISIA
Official Language: Arabic
Capital: Tunis
Government: Republic
Independence: France 1957
World Ranking: 109
Former Head of State: Habib Bourguiba 1987
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali 2011
Moncef Marzouki 2014
Head of State: Pres. Beji Caid Essebsi 2014
Ambassador to USA: Muhamed E. Chelaifa 2014
US Ambassador: Jacob Walles 2012
UGANDA
Official Language: English and Swahili
Capital: Kampala
Government: Republic
Independence: UK 1962
World Ranking: 91
Former Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II- 1962-1963
Frederick Mutesa II 1966 (Deposed)
Milton Obote 1971 (Deposed)
Idi Amin 1979 Mil (Deposed)
Yusuf Lule 1979 (Deposed)
Godfrey Binaisa 1980 (Deposed)
Paulo Muwanga 1980 (Resigned)
Presidential Commission 1980
Milton Obote 1985 (Deposed)
Bazilio Olara-Okello 1985 Mil (Resigned)
Tito Okello 1986 Mil (Deposed)
Head of State: Pres. Yoweri Museveni 1986
Ambassador to USA: Her E. Oliver Wonekha 2013
US Ambassador: Scott DeLisi 2012
WESTERN SAHARA
Official Language: Arabic
Capital: Laayoune
Government: Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Independence: None
World Ranking: Not Ranked
Former Head of State: 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
World Ranking: 88
Former Head of State: Kenneth Kaunda 1991
Frederick Chiluba 2002
Levy Mwanawasa 2008
Rupiah Banda 2011
Michael Sata 2014
Guy Scott 2015
Head of State: Pres Edgar Lungu 2015
Ambassador to USA: Palan Mulonda 2013
US Ambassador: Eric T. Schultz 2014
ZIMBABWE (Formerly Southern Rhodesia)
Official Language: English
Capital: Harare
Government: Consociationalist Republic
Independence: UK 1965, from white rule 1980
World Ranking: 176
Former Head of State: Canaan Banana -1987
Head of State: Pres Robert Gabriel Mugabe 1987
Ambassador to USA: Ammon Machingambi Mutembwa 2015
US Ambassador: David Bruce Wharton 2012
One Ambassador, resident in Libreville, Gabon is also accredited for Sao Tome
Principle.
One Ambassador, resident in Dakar, Senegal is also accredited for Guinea-Bissau
One Ambassador, resident in Antananarivo, Madagascar is also accredited for Comoros.
One Ambassador, resident in Port Louis, Mauritius is also accredited for Seychelles
© President Obama’s choice of Katherine Simmons Dhanani for the next U.S. Ambassador to Somalia has withdrawn her nomination, putting a wrench in American plans for increased relations with the country for the first time in decades. Dhanani would have been the first U.S. Ambassador in Somalia in 25years. May 2015
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.
African Union Mission – Ambassador Amina Salum Ali
1640 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20007
info@AfricanUnion-WDCUS
(202) 293-8006
All countries listed above are members except:
Canary Islands, Comoros, Eritrea, Libya, Reunion, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, South Sudan, and West Sahara.
*The Heritage Foundation -2014 Index of Economic Freedom- Ranking the World by Economic Freedom
Ambassadors to international organizations
Current ambassadors from the United States to international organizations:
Host organization
African Union
Location
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Nairobi, Kenya
Ambassador
Reuben Brigety
Joseph Murphy
Confirmed
August 1, 2013
January 2010
Special Envoys, Representatives and Coordinators
These diplomatic officials report directly to the Secretary of State. Many oversee a portfolio not restricted to one nation, often an overall goal, and are not usually subject to Senate confirmation.
Portfolio
African Great Lakes Region
and the Congo-Kinshasa
Central African Republic
Ebola Response
Libya
Somalia
Office holder (Title)
Tom Perriello (Special Envoy)
Stuart Symington (Special Representative) April 21, 2014
Steven Browning (Special Coordinator) December 1, 2014
Jonathan Winer (Special Envoy) September 2013
James McAnulty (Special Representative) August 29, 2013
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July 16th, 2015 View Profile