Changes at the US Embassy in Mogadishu, Amb. André is out, replaced by Amb. Riley!

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Richard H. Riley, IV, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Somalia

          Richard H. Riley, IV is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor. He currently serves as Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada.  Previously, Riley was the Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar, Pakistan. 

       He has also served in senior leadership assignments such as Charge d’Affaires, ad interim, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway, Assistant Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a, Yemen, and Senior Civilian Representative (Team Leader) at the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Nangahar Province, Afghanistan. 

          Earlier, he was Deputy Director of the Office of Egypt and Levant Affairs at the Department of State, Senior Coordinator for Democracy and Human Rights at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, and Deputy Team Leader of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Dhi Qar (Nassiriyah), Iraq. Riley has also served in London, England, Moscow, Russia, Beijing and Chengdu, China, as well as Kingston, Jamaica. 

       He replaces Ambassador Larry André, Jr of Texas who was confirmed by US Senate back in December of 2021 and he presented his credentials on February 7, 2022.

       André is a career diplomat with extensive experience on the African continent, including two previous ambassadorship in Djibouti and Mauritania. Ambassador Andrè leaves a legacy of improving the relations between the two countries! He was a great ally in the fight against the terrorist group, Alshabaab. 

By: Abdirahman Dahir (Samawade)
Entrepreneur | Activist | Blogger 

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