United States Ambassador to Burkina Faso
Encyclopedia
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Burkina Faso
(formerly Upper Volta).
Until 1960 Upper Volta was a French possession as a part of French West Africa
. In 1958 Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community
(Communauté française), and achieved independence as the Republic of Upper Volta on August 5, 1960.
The United States recognized
Upper Volta immediately and assigned its first envoy on the nation's independence day, August 5. The envoy, Donald R. Norland, had presented his credentials as Chargé d'Affaires
ad interim on the previous day, August 4, to take effect on the day of independence. Norland was also the Chargé d'Affaires a.i. to the newly independent nations: Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire
), Dahomey (Benin
) and Niger
while resident in Abidjan
.
The first ranking ambassador, R. Borden Reams, was appointed October 17, 1960. He was also the ambassador to the aforementioned countries while resident in Abidjan. On December 31, 1960, an embassy was established in Ouagadougou
with a resident Chargé d'affaires. On May 29, 1961 the first ambassador solely accredited to Upper Volta was appointed.
On August 4, 1984, the nation changed its name to Burkina Faso.
The United States Embassy in Burkina Faso is located in Ouagadougou
.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
(formerly Upper Volta).
Until 1960 Upper Volta was a French possession as a part of French West Africa
French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
. In 1958 Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community
French Community
The French Community was an association of states known in French simply as La Communauté. In 1958 it replaced the French Union, which had itself succeeded the French colonial empire in 1946....
(Communauté française), and achieved independence as the Republic of Upper Volta on August 5, 1960.
The United States recognized
Diplomatic recognition
Diplomatic recognition in international law is a unilateral political act with domestic and international legal consequences, whereby a state acknowledges an act or status of another state or government in control of a state...
Upper Volta immediately and assigned its first envoy on the nation's independence day, August 5. The envoy, Donald R. Norland, had presented his credentials as Chargé d'Affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
ad interim on the previous day, August 4, to take effect on the day of independence. Norland was also the Chargé d'Affaires a.i. to the newly independent nations: Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
), Dahomey (Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
) and Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
while resident in Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
.
The first ranking ambassador, R. Borden Reams, was appointed October 17, 1960. He was also the ambassador to the aforementioned countries while resident in Abidjan. On December 31, 1960, an embassy was established in Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
with a resident Chargé d'affaires. On May 29, 1961 the first ambassador solely accredited to Upper Volta was appointed.
On August 4, 1984, the nation changed its name to Burkina Faso.
The United States Embassy in Burkina Faso is located in Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
.
Ambassadors
- R. Borden Reams– Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 17, 1960
- Presented credentials: December 6, 1960
- Terminated mission: Superseded by new resident ambassador June 26, 1961
- Thomas S. Estes – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 29, 1961
- Presented credentials: June 26, 1961
- Terminated mission: Left post July 13, 1966
- Elliott P. Skinner – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 27, 1966
- Presented credentials: September 14, 1966
- Terminated mission: Left post July 16, 1969
- William E. Schaufele, Jr.William E. Schaufele, Jr.William E. Schaufele, Jr. was an American diplomat and official at the United States Department of State.-Life:...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 29, 1969
- Presented credentials: October 16, 1969
- Terminated mission: Left post July 10, 1971
- Donald B. EasumDonald B. EasumDonald Boyd Easum spent 27 years in the United States Foreign Service at posts in Nicaragua, Indonesia, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Upper Volta and Nigeria...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 5, 1971
- Presented credentials: December 8, 1971
- Terminated mission: Left post January 19, 1974
- Pierre R. GrahamPierre R. GrahamPierre R. Graham was an American diplomat. He was the United States Ambassador to Upper Volta from 1974 to 1978. He was born in 1922 and died in 1988....
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 20, 1974
- Presented credentials: July 30, 1974
- Terminated mission: Left post June 13, 1978
- Thomas D. BoyattThomas D. BoyattThomas David Boyatt is a former diplomat and United States Ambassador to Burkina Faso and Colombia . He is a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy. He was held captive for six days in a Palestinian hijacking in the 1960s. He graduated from Wyoming High School in 1951...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 18, 1978
- Presented credentials: September 21, 1978
- Terminated mission: Left post October 23, 1980
- Note: Larry C. Grahl served as chargé d'affaires ad interim, October 1980–November 1981.
- Julius Waring Walker, Jr.Julius Waring Walker, Jr.Julius Waring Walker, Jr. was an American diplomat and United States Ambassador to Upper Volta from 1981 to 1984.-Biography:Walker was born February 21, 1927, in Plainview, Texas...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 18, 1981
- Presented credentials: November 18, 1981
- Terminated mission: Left post July 5, 1984
- Leonardo NeherLeonardo NeherLeonardo Neher is an American diplomat. He was the United States Ambassador to Burkina Faso from 1984 to 1987 .-Biography:...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 28, 1984
- Presented credentials: September 21, 1984
- Terminated mission: Left post August 1, 1987
- David H. ShinnDavid H. ShinnDavid H. Shinn is an Adjunct Professor of International Affairs at The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 6, 1987
- Presented credentials: November 28, 1987
- Terminated mission: Left post August 6, 1990
- Edward P. BrynnEdward P. BrynnEdward P. Brynn is an American diplomat. Brynn served as chargé d'Affaires ad interim to Mauritania from July 1982 to February 1983 and chargé d'Affaires ad interim to The Gambia from May 1984 to June 1984 before he was the United States Ambassador to Burkina Faso and Ghana .-Biography:Brynn was...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 22, 1990
- Presented credentials: January 14, 1991
- Terminated mission: Left post April 17, 1993
- Donald J. McConnellDonald J. McConnellDonald J. McConnell is an American diplomat. He was born in Ohio in 1939, and served as United States Ambassador to Burkina Faso from 1993-1996 and to Eritrea from 2001-2004....
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: August 9, 1993
- Presented credentials: November 22, 1993
- Terminated mission: Left post June 4, 1996
- Sharon P. WilkinsonSharon P. WilkinsonSharon P. Wilkonson is an American diplomat. She served as United States Ambassidor to Burkina Faso from 1996-1999 and United States Ambassidor to Mozambique from 2000-2003.-Biography:...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 11, 1996
- Presented credentials: October 24, 1996
- Terminated mission: Left post July 12, 1999
- Jimmy J. KolkerJimmy J. KolkerJimmy J. Kolker is an American diplomat. He was the ambassador to Burkina Faso from 2000 to 2002 and Uganda from 2002 to 2005. He is currently the Chief of the HIV/AIDS Section at UNICEF’s New York headquarters.-Biography:...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 16, 1999
- Presented credentials: January 11, 2000
- Terminated mission: Left post August 2, 2002
- J. Anthony HolmesJ. Anthony HolmesAmbassador J. Anthony Holmes is the second and current Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Activity, U.S. Africa Command. USAFRICOM was formally stood up in October 2007, as a subunified command initially of EUCOM, under the command of General William E. Ward, who is first commander of...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 3, 2002
- Presented credentials: December 23, 2002
- Terminated mission: Left post July 9, 2005
- Jeanine E. JacksonJeanine E. JacksonJeanine E. Jackson is an American diplomat. She was the ambassador to Burkina Faso from from 2006 to 2009 and is currently the ambassador to the Republic of Malawi. She is also an accomplished pianist.-Biography:...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 21, 2006
- Presented credentials: March 24, 2006
- Terminated mission: Unknown
- Gayleatha B. BrownGayleatha B. BrownGayleatha Beatrice Brown is a United States foreign service officer and ambassador. She has served in several diplomatic posts during her career with the U.S. Department of State including U.S. ambassador to Benin and Burkina Faso....
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: August 4, 2009
- Presented credentials: Unknown
- Terminated mission: Unknown
- Thomas DoughertyThomas DoughertyThomas Dougherty is an American diplomat. He is the current United States Ambassador to Burkina Faso.-Biography:Thomas Dougherty is from Casper, Wyoming. He graduated from Brown University and joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1989. He was nominated to be the ambassador to Burkina Faso by...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 27, 2010
- Presented credentials: August 5, 2010
- Terminated mission: Incumbent
See also
- Ambassadors to Burkina FasoAmbassadors to Burkina FasoThis is a list of all the current ambassadors to Burkina Faso. Note: For a list of former ambassadors from each country, follow the Former Ambassadors link...
- Burkina Faso – United States relations
- Foreign relations of Burkina FasoForeign relations of Burkina FasoBurkina Faso has good relations with the European Union, African, and Asian countries. France, the former colonial power, in particular, continues to provide significant aid and supports Compaoré's developing role as a regional powerbroker...
- Ambassadors of the United States