African Heads of State

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

Appointed

July 6, 2015