Donald E. Booth

Donald E. Booth (born 13 July 1952) is an American diplomat who is serving as the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan. Between August 2013 and January 2017, he was the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan. Prior to his appointments as special envoy, Mr. Booth served as the Ambassador of the United States to Liberia, Zambia, and Ethiopia.

Donald E. Booth
United States Special Envoy for Sudan
In office June 10, 2019 – present
President	Donald J. Trump
Preceded by	Donald Booth
United States Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan
In office August 28, 2013 – January 2017
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Princeton Lyman
Succeeded by	self
United States Ambassador to Ethiopia
In office April 21, 2010 – August 16, 2013
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Donald Yamamoto
Succeeded by	Patricia Haslach
United States Ambassador to Zambia
In office October 23, 2008 – March 17, 2010
President	George W. Bush Barack Obama
Preceded by	Carmen Martinez
Succeeded by	Mark Storella
United States Ambassador to Liberia
In office August 9, 2005 – July 11, 2008
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	John Blaney
Succeeded by	Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Personal details
Born	July 13, 1952 Elmira, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	Georgetown University Boston University National Defense University

US Ambassador Donald E. Booth and Liberia's then–president-elect Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Early life

Booth attended Georgetown University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in foreign service; Boston University, where he earned an MBA; and the National War College, where he earned a master's degree in national security studies.[1]

Diplomatic career

Booth initially served in a number of diplomatic posts, including Economic Counselor in Athens, Division Chief of Bilateral Trade Affairs at the State Department, International Relations Officer in the Office of Eastern European Affairs, desk officer for the Office of Egyptian Affairs and the Office of East African Affairs, and various positions at the U.S. embassies to Romania, Gabon, Liberia, and Belgium.[2]

Immediately prior to his appointment as ambassador to Liberia in 2005, he had served as Deputy Director of the Office of Southern African Affairs, Director of the Office of West African Affairs, and Director of the Office of Technical and Specialized Agencies in the State Department's Bureau of International Organization Affairs.[2]

Booth was appointed Ambassador to Liberia by George W. Bush in 2005; he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 16, 2005, and arrived in Liberia on July 29.[2] On June 4, 2008, he was confirmed as the new U.S. ambassador to Zambia.[1] He left his post in Liberia on July 11,[2] and took up the post in Zambia on September 19.[1]

He was nominated to become Ambassador to Ethiopia by President Barack Obama on December 9, 2009, and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.[3] He was nominated to become the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan by President Obama on Wednesday, August 28, 2013.[4][5] Booth served as the US Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan until 2017. He led the U.S. government's effort to "normalize relations" with the genocidal regime in Sudan[6][7] and repeatedly worked to make it easier for Sudan to comply with the U.S. requirements to lift sanctions on Sudan. In South Sudan, Booth oversaw U.S. policy that sidelined Vice President Riek Machar and solidified U.S. support for President Salva Kiir despite Kiir's continued efforts to thwart peace efforts and sponsorship of mass atrocities. Sidelining Machar and saying that he should not return to Juba exacerbated the conflict, solidified Kiir's ruling authority, and was a tacit endorsement of Kiir's military's continued human rights abuses and atrocities committed against the South Sudanese people.[8]

The Trump administration re-appointed Donald Booth to be the Special Envoy for Sudan on June 10, 2019 and announced his appointment two days later.[9]

References

1. "Biography: Donald Booth, Ambassador, Zambia". U.S. Department of State. 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
2. "Biography: Donald E. Booth, Ambassador, Liberia". U.S. Department of State. 2005-07-30. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
3. "Obama Nominates New Ambassador to Ethiopia". U.S. Department of State. 2009-12-09. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
4. "Statement by the President Announcing the Appointment of Ambassador Donald Booth as U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan". White House Office of the Press Secretary. August 28, 2013. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
5. Madhani, Aamer (August 28, 2013). "Obama names special envoy for South Sudan and Sudan". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
6. Booth, Donald. "U.S. Policy on Sudan and South Sudan: The Way Forward" (PDF).
7. "Donald Booth: 'Sanctions relief is a start to address Sudan's human rights issues'". Radio Dabanga. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
8. Epstein, Helen (2017-01-18). "The Lost Hopes for South Sudan". The New Yorker (Serial). ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
9. News, ABC. "US sends envoy to Sudan amid reports of rapes during military crackdown". ABC News. Retrieved 2019-06-13.

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN
• U.S. Department of State's Brussels Regional Media Hub , July 23, 2019