List of ambassadors of the United States to Eswatini

NOTE: By direction of King Mswati III, the English language form of his country's name was changed from Swaziland to Eswatini in 2018.[1] Diplomatic missions were officially notified of this new name on May 18, 2018, and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the new country name "Eswatini" (short-form) or "Kingdom of Eswatini" (long-form) on May 25, 2018 for U.S. government communications and documentation.[2]

Ambassador of the United States to Eswatini
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent
John K. Moyer
Chargé d'Affaires

since January 20, 2021
NominatorBarack Obama
Inaugural holderCharles J. Nelson
as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
FormationJune 9, 1971
WebsiteU.S. Embassy - Mbabane


This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Eswatini (formerly Swaziland).

After the Second Boer War of 1899–1902, Swaziland became a British protectorate and thus came under the hegemony of the British Empire. In the early years of colonial rule, the British had expected that Swaziland would eventually be incorporated into South Africa. After World War II, however, South Africa’s racial policies induced the United Kingdom to prepare Swaziland for independence. In 1966, the UK Government agreed to discuss a new constitution, and Swaziland became independent on September 6, 1968.

The United States immediately recognized the new nation and established an embassy in the capital Mbabane on September 6, 1968, independence day for Swaziland. Chris C. Pappas, Jr., was appointed as chargé d'affaires ad interim pending the appointment of an ambassador. The first ambassador, Charles J. Nelson was appointed on June 9, 1971. He was accredited to Swaziland, Lesotho, and Botswana while resident in Gaborone, Botswana.

Ambassadors

  • Note: Chris C. Pappas, Jr. served as chargé d'affaires September 1968–April 1969. Robert W. Chase served in that capacity, April 1969–August 1971.
  • Note: Until 1979 one ambassador, resident at Gaborone, was accredited to Botswana, Swaziland, and Lesotho.
  • Charles J. Nelson – Political appointee
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: June 9, 1971
    • Presented credentials: November 3, 1971
    • Terminated mission: Left Gaborone, March 2, 1974
  • David B. Bolen – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: February 28, 1974
    • Presented credentials: April 22, 1974
    • Terminated mission: Left Gaborone, August 11, 1976
  • Donald R. Norland – Career FSO[3]
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: November 17, 1976
    • Presented credentials: February 23, 1978
    • Terminated mission: Left Gaborone, September 8, 1979
  • Note: In 1979 the first ambassador was appointed solely for Swaziland.
  • Richard Cavins Matheron – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: November 27, 1979
    • Presented credentials: March 11, 1980
    • Terminated mission: Left post May 26, 1982
  • Robert H. Phinny – Political appointee
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: August 17, 1982
    • Presented credentials: January 12, 1983
    • Terminated mission: Left post September 5, 1984
  • Harvey Frans Nelson, Jr. – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: August 1, 1985
    • Presented credentials: October 14, 1985
    • Terminated mission: Left post July 29, 1988
  • Mary A. Ryan – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: July 11, 1988
    • Presented credentials: August 25, 1988
    • Terminated mission: Left post January 24, 1990
  • Stephen H. Rogers – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: October 22, 1990
    • Presented credentials: November 15, 1990
    • Terminated mission: Left post November 19, 1993
  • John T. Sprott – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: August 9, 1993
    • Presented credentials: February 17, 1994
    • Terminated mission: Left post August 1, 1996
  • Alan R. McKee – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: July 2, 1996
    • Presented credentials: October 11, 1996
    • Terminated mission: Left post July 12, 1999
  • Gregory Lee Johnson – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: November 16, 1999
    • Presented credentials: February 3, 2000
    • Terminated mission: Relinquished charge October 18, 2001
  • James D. McGee – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: January 30, 2002
    • Presented credentials: February 21, 2002
    • Terminated mission: Left post August 10, 2004
  • Lewis W. Lucke – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: July 2, 2004
    • Presented credentials: August 26, 2004
    • Terminated mission: 2006
  • Maurice S. Parker – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: July 20, 2007
    • Presented credentials: September 2007
    • Terminated Mission: June 12, 2009
  • Earl M. Irving – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: August 27, 2009
    • Presented credentials: August 27, 2009
    • Terminated Mission: August 27, 2012
  • Makila James - Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: August 27, 2012
    • Presented credentials: August 27, 2012
    • Terminated Mission: February 5, 2016
  • Lisa J. Peterson - Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: February 5, 2016
    • Presented credentials: February 5, 2016
    • Terminated Mission: January 20, 2021

Notes

  1. Motau, Phephile (May 18, 2018). "Kingdom Of Eswatini Change Now Official". www.times.co.sz. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  2. "Appendix A: Notes on Nationality (from Report of the Visa Office 2018)" (PDF). travel.state.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 27, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  3. Norland was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on June 24, 1977.

See also

References

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