United States Ambassador to Somalia
Encyclopedia
Somalia was formed July 1, 1960, from the unification of the British protectorate of Somaliland
with Italian Somaliland
. The United States immediately recognized
the Somali government and moved to establish diplomatic relations. The U.S. Embassy in the capital Mogadiscio (now Mogadishu
) was established on July 1, 1960, with Andrew G. Lynch as Chargé d'Affaires
ad interim
. He was promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary four days later on July 5, 1960.
The American Embassy closed on January 5, 1991
, and all U.S. personnel were withdrawn after the collapse of the central Somali government. Although the United States never severed diplomatic relations with Somalia, the U.S. Embassy in Somalia has been closed since 1991. The United States maintains regular dialogue with the Transitional Federal Government
and other key stakeholders in Somalia through the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.
British Somaliland
British Somaliland was a British protectorate in the northern part of present-day Somalia. For much of its existence, British Somaliland was bordered by French Somaliland, Ethiopia, and Italian Somaliland. From 1940 to 1941, it was occupied by the Italians and was part of Italian East Africa...
with Italian Somaliland
Italian Somaliland
Italian Somaliland , also known as Italian Somalia, was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy from the 1880s until 1936 in the region of modern-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th century by the Somali Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate, the territory was later acquired by Italy through various...
. The United States immediately 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...
the Somali government and moved to establish diplomatic relations. The U.S. Embassy in the capital Mogadiscio (now Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
) was established on July 1, 1960, with Andrew G. Lynch 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
Ad interim
The Latin phrase ad interim literally means "in the time between" denotes the meaning of "in the meantime", "for an intervening time" or "temporarily" in the English language...
. He was promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary four days later on July 5, 1960.
The American Embassy closed on January 5, 1991
Operation Eastern Exit
Operation Eastern Exit was the codename given to the military evacuation of the United States embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia. On 1 January 1991, after increasing violence in Mogadishu during the Somali Civil War, James Keough Bishop, the then US ambassador to Somalia, requested military assistance...
, and all U.S. personnel were withdrawn after the collapse of the central Somali government. Although the United States never severed diplomatic relations with Somalia, the U.S. Embassy in Somalia has been closed since 1991. The United States maintains regular dialogue with the Transitional Federal Government
Transitional Federal Government
The Transitional Federal Government is the current internationally recognized government of the Republic of Somalia. It was established as one of the Transitional Federal Institutions of government as defined in the Transitional Federal Charter adopted in November 2004 by the Transitional...
and other key stakeholders in Somalia through the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.
Ambassadors
- Andrew G. Lynch – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 5, 1960
- Presented credentials: July 11, 1960
- Terminated mission: Left post May 7, 1962
- Horace G. Torbert, Jr. – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 17, 1962
- Presented credentials: January 31, 1963
- Terminated mission: Left post August 29, 1965
- Raymond L. Thurston – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 1, 1965
- Presented credentials: November 23, 1965
- Terminated mission: Left post December 15, 1968
- Fred L. Hadsel – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 13, 1969
- Presented credentials: June 28, 1969
- Terminated mission: Left post July 18, 1971
- Matthew J. Looram, Jr. – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 15, 1972
- Presented credentials: March 13, 1972
- Terminated mission: Left post July 5, 1973
- Roger Kirk – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 20, 1973
- Presented credentials: October 8, 1973
- Terminated mission: Left post February 20, 1975
- John L. Loughran – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 8, 1975
- Presented credentials: August 13, 1975
- Terminated mission: Left post November 5, 1978
- Donald K. Petterson – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 12, 1978
- Presented credentials: December 8, 1978
- Terminated mission: Left post December 30, 1982
- Robert B. Oakley – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 30, 1982
- Presented credentials: January 26, 1983
- Terminated mission: Left post August 12, 1984
- Peter BridgesPeter BridgesPeter Scott Bridges is an author and was the United States ambassador to Somalia from 1984 to 1986.-Personal:Bridges was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of Charles Scott Bridges and Shirley Amélie Devlin Bridges, and grew up in Illinois.In 1949, he graduated from Hinsdale Township High...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 14, 1984
- Presented credentials: December 19, 1984
- Terminated mission: Left post May 14, 1986
- Note: The post was vacant from May 1986 until June 1987. The following officers served as chargé d'affaires ad interim:
- John L. Hirsch (May 1986–August 1986)
- David P. Rawson (August 1986–June 1987).
- Trusten Frank Crigler – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: April 24, 1987
- Presented credentials: June 3, 1987
- Terminated mission: Left post April 1, 1990
- James Keough Bishop – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 27, 1990
- Presented credentials: September 19, 1990
- Terminated mission: January 5, 1991
- Note: The embassy was closed on January 5, 1991.
See also
- Somalia – United States relations
- Foreign relations of SomaliaForeign relations of SomaliaForeign relations of Somalia are handled primarily by the President as the head of state, the Prime Minister as the head of government, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Transitional Federal Government....
- Ambassadors of the United States