The Washington Diplomat

Appointments - December 2008

Austria
Andrea Schrammel assumed the position of cultural counselor in August, replacing Margareta Ploder.

Bahrain
Abdulla Al Hamad assumed the position of third secretary in July.

Hind Kamal assumed the position of second secretary in July.

Egypt
ASameh Shoukry was appointed ambassador of Egypt to the United States on Sept. 24. Ambassador Shoukry, 56, previously served as Egypt’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva (2005-08) as well as ambassador to Austria and permanent representative to the International Organizations in Vienna (1999-2003). He also served as director of cabinet for the minister of foreign affairs (2004-05) and as secretary for information and follow-up for President Hosni Mubarak (1995-99). As a career diplomat who joined the diplomatic corps in 1976, Ambassador Shoukry served in the Egyptian embassies in London and Buenos Aires as well as the Egyptian Permanent Mission in New York. In addition, he headed the Department of the United States and Canada in the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1994-95). Ambassador Shoukry holds a law degree from Ein Shams University. He is married with two sons.

Gabon
Bâ Oumar assumed the position of second counselor on Sept. 30 having previously served as second counselor at the embassy in Spain.

Ireland
Laurence Simms assumed the position of economic officer in September, replacing Tim Doyle.

Lesotho
David Mohlomi Rantekoa became ambassador of Lesotho on June 2. Ambassador Rantekoa has 30 years of experience as a public servant, trade negotiator, advocate for good governance and supporter of private-sector growth. He previously served as the principal secretary of Lesotho’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, which he joined in 1995, before which time he was deputy principal secretary at the Ministry of Finance. As a proponent of free trade, he has been a leader in trade negotiations with the Southern African Customs Union, Southern African Development Community, European Union, World Trade Organization, U.N. Industrial Development Corp., U.N. Conference on Trade and Development, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. His efforts helped Lesotho to be selected as chair of the group of 32 Least Development (LDCs) at the WTO Doha Round. In addition, Ambassador Rantekoa has held leadership positions at many of Lesotho’s key public enterprises, and he has served on the boards of businesses such as the Lesotho National Development Corp., Basotho Enterprises Development Corp., Lesotho Sun Hotel, Maseru Sun Hotel, Lesotho Revenue Authority and the Lesotho Electric Co. His priorities in Washington include expanding the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, implementing Lesotho’s $362.5 million Millennium Challenge Compact and promoting his country as a destination for ethical apparel sourcing. Currently, Ambassador Rantekoa is also serving as Lesotho’s chief representative to several South American countries and is concluding negotiations on a preferential trade agreement between the Southern African Customs Union and the Mercosur countries of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. He is married with two daughters and one son.

Madagascar
Andriatsitohaina Jaona assumed the position of counselor on Oct. 1, replacing Christiane Razafijemisa, who departed the post on Sept. 2.