US President Joe Biden has nominated Irvin Jose Masinga to be the ambassador to Ethiopia. The White House announced the appointment on Tuesday, December 25, along with the nomination of six other diplomats. If approved by the US Senate, Masinga will be responsible for representing the United States in Ethiopia and promoting relations between the two countries.
Masinga currently serves as the First Deputy Secretary of the Bureau of African Affairs at the US Department of State. In this role, he works on a range of issues related to US policy in Africa, including economic development, democracy promotion, and conflict resolution. Before joining the Bureau of African Affairs, Masinga served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Pakistan Affairs in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs and as Director of the Bureau of Pakistan Affairs.
In addition to his work at the State Department, Masinga has also held diplomatic positions in other countries around the world. He served as the Deputy Chief of Mission of the American Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan from 2008 to 2010, and in a similar role in Conakry, Guinea from 2005 to 2008. He has also worked at embassies in Ivory Coast and China, and has experience in the Dominican Republic.
Masinga is a graduate of Georgetown and Washington Universities, and is fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Chinese Mandarin. His diverse language skills and international experience make him well-suited for the role of ambassador to Ethiopia, a country with a rich cultural and linguistic heritage. If his appointment is approved by the US Senate, Masinga will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the position, and will work to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Ethiopia.
