Fergus Cochrane-Dyet
Encyclopedia
Fergus Cochrane-Dyet is a British diplomat. In 2011, while serving as the High Commissioner
of the United Kingdom
to Malawi
, he was declared persona non grata
and expelled from the country because of controversial comments he made in a leaked diplomatic cable.
, Australia
, Guinea
, Indonesia
, Libya
, Nigeria
, and Zambia
. His first position as a head of mission was as the British High Commissioner to Seychelles
from 2007 to 2009. In September 2009, he became the British High Commissioner to Malawi.
published an article quoting a leaked diplomatic telegram from Cochrane-Dyet in which he wrote that Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika
was "becoming ever more autocratic and intolerant of criticism". On 27 April, Malawi's government declared Cochrane-Dyet persona non grata and expelled him from the country."Malawi expels British ambassador", The Guardian
, 2011-04-27. The UK responded by expelling Malawi's acting high commissioner. British aid to Malawi was also cut off.
In October 2011, Mutharika apologised for the expulsion of Cochrane-Dyet and lifted his ban from Malawi. By November 2011, Cochrane-Dyet had not been sent back to Malawi and the British government had not decided whether or not to re-establish normal relations with Malawi.
High Commissioner (Commonwealth)
In the Commonwealth of Nations, a High Commissioner is the senior diplomat in charge of the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth government to another.-History:...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, he was declared persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
and expelled from the country because of controversial comments he made in a leaked diplomatic cable.
Diplomatic positions
Cochrane-Dyet has held diplomatic positions representing the British government in AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, and Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
. His first position as a head of mission was as the British High Commissioner to Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
from 2007 to 2009. In September 2009, he became the British High Commissioner to Malawi.
Leaked diplomatic cable controversy
In April 2011, the Malawian newspaper The NationThe Nation (Malawi)
The Nation Newspaper is a newspaper based in Blantyre, Malawi owned by Nations Publications Limited. It began distribution in July, 1993, and became a daily newspaper in 1994. Its sister newspaper Saturday Nation, now called Weekend Nation was launched in 1995...
published an article quoting a leaked diplomatic telegram from Cochrane-Dyet in which he wrote that Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...
was "becoming ever more autocratic and intolerant of criticism". On 27 April, Malawi's government declared Cochrane-Dyet persona non grata and expelled him from the country."Malawi expels British ambassador", The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, 2011-04-27. The UK responded by expelling Malawi's acting high commissioner. British aid to Malawi was also cut off.
In October 2011, Mutharika apologised for the expulsion of Cochrane-Dyet and lifted his ban from Malawi. By November 2011, Cochrane-Dyet had not been sent back to Malawi and the British government had not decided whether or not to re-establish normal relations with Malawi.