List of ambassadors of the United States to Botswana explained

Post:Ambassador
Body:the United States to Botswana
Insignia:US Department of State official seal.svg
Insigniasize:120px
Insigniacaption:Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent:Howard Van Vranken
Incumbentsince:May 24, 2023
Nominator:The President of the United States
Appointer:The President
Appointer Qualified:with Senate advice and consent
Inaugural:Charles H. Pletcher
as Chargé d'Affaires
Formation:September 1966
Website:U.S. Embassy - Gaborone

From 1885 until 1966 the area of Southern Africa that is now Botswana was part of the Bechuanaland Protectorate of Great Britain.

In June 1964, Britain accepted proposals for democratic self-government in Botswana. The seat of government was moved from Mahikeng in South Africa, to newly established in Gaberones (now Gaborone) in 1965. The 1965 constitution led to the first general elections and to independence on September 30, 1966.

The United States immediately recognized the new nation and moved to establish diplomatic relations. An embassy in Gaberones was established on September 30, 1966—independence day for Botswana. Charles H. Pletcher was appointed as French: [[Chargé d'affaires]] ad interim pending the appointment of an ambassador.[1] He served June 1970–September 1971.

Ambassadors

!Name!Title!Appointed!Presented credentials!Terminated mission!Notes
Charles J. Nelson – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJune 9, 1971November 3, 1971Left Gaborone, March 2, 1974
David B. Bolen – Career FSOFebruary 28, 1974April 22, 1974Left Gaborone, August 11, 1976
Donald R. Norland – Career FSONovember 17, 1976February 23, 1978Left Gaborone, September 8, 1979In 1979 the first ambassador was appointed solely for Botswana.
Horace Dawson – Career FSOOctober 12, 1979November 27, 1979August 27, 1982
Theodore C. Maino – Political appointeeSeptember 30, 1982December 2, 1982September 6, 1985
Natale H. Bellocchi – Career FSOOctober 28, 1985November 19, 1985September 16, 1988
John Florian Kordek – Career FSOAugust 11, 1988September 29, 1988November 1, 1989
David Passage – Career FSOJune 27, 1990August 7, 1990April 29, 1993
Howard Franklin Jeter – Career FSOJuly 16, 1993September 9, 1993June 21, 1996
Robert Krueger – Political appointeeJune 6, 1996July 23, 1996December 6, 1999
John E. Lange – Career FSONovember 16, 1999December 15, 1999August 8, 2002
Joseph Huggins – Career FSONovember 15, 2002January 28, 2003July 26, 2005
Katherine H. P. Canavan – Career FSOAugust 2, 2005September 27, 2005June 27, 2008[2]
Stephen J. Nolan – Career FSOJune 23, 2008[3] October 6, 2008June 13, 2011[4]
Michelle D. Gavin – Political appointeeApril 18, 2011June 20, 2011February 22, 2014
Earl Robert Miller – Foreign Service SpecialistDecember 2014December 18, 2014September 24, 2018
Craig L. Cloud - Career FSOJanuary 7, 2019April 2, 2019[5] May 24, 2022
Howard Van Vranken - Career FSODecember 21, 2022May 24, 2023Incumbent

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Botswana - Chiefs of Mission - People - Department History - Office of the Historian. 2021-12-12. history.state.gov.
  2. https://2001-2009.state.gov/outofdate/bios/c/54313.htm United States Dep’t of State: Biography of Katherine H. Canavan
  3. https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/108658.htm United States Dep’t of State: Biography of Stephen J. Nolan
  4. Web site: Stephen James Nolan - People - Department History - Office of the Historian .
  5. News: Botswana: Four Envoys Present Credentials . Aobakwe . Molefhi . April 3, 2019 . allAfrica . 2019-04-06.