Fergus Cochrane-Dyet

Fergus Cochrane-Dyet OBE (born 16 January 1965) is a British diplomat who served as High Commissioner to Zambia from April 2016 until August 2019, being succeeded by Nicholas Woolley.[1] In 2011, while serving as High Commissioner to Malawi, he was declared persona non grata and expelled from the country because of controversial comments he made in a leaked diplomatic cable.

Fergus Cochrane-Dyet OBE
High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Zambia
In office 21 April 2016 – August 2019
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	David Cameron Theresa May Boris Johnson
Preceded by	Lucy Joyce
Succeeded by	Nicholas Wooley
High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Malawi
In office September 2009 – 27 April 2011
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown David Cameron
Preceded by	Richard Wildash
Succeeded by	Kirk Hollingsworth
High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Seychelles
In office 2007 – 2009
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown Tony Blair
Preceded by	Diana Skingle
Succeeded by	Matthew Forbes
Personal details
Born	16 January 1965
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Susie Cochrane-Dyet ​ (m. 1987)​
Children	3
Education	Felsted School

Education and career

Cochrane-Dyet attended Felsted School in Essex, England from 1978 until 1983.[2]

Cochrane-Dyet has held diplomatic positions representing the British government in Afghanistan, Australia, Guinea, Indonesia, Libya, Nigeria, and Zambia. His first position as head of mission was as the British High Commissioner to the Seychelles from 2007 to 2009. In September 2009, he became the British High Commissioner to Malawi. After his expulsion from Malawi, he spent a year as Deputy Head of Mission in Helmand, Afghanistan. He was appointed British Ambassador to Liberia in 2013 and was replaced in April 2015.[3] He was appointed High Commissioner to Zambia in February 2016[4] and took up the post when he presented his letter of credence to President Lungu on 21 April 2016.[5]

Leaked diplomatic cable controversy

In April 2011, the Malawian newspaper The Nation published an article quoting a leaked diplomatic telegram from Cochrane-Dyet in which he wrote that Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika was "becoming ever more autocratic and intolerant of criticism".[6] On 27 April, Malawi's government declared Cochrane-Dyet persona non grata and expelled him from the country.[7] The United Kingdom responded by expelling Malawi's acting high commissioner, Ms. Flossie Chidyaonga.[8][9] British aid to Malawi was also cut off.[10]

In October 2011, Mutharika apologised for the expulsion of Cochrane-Dyet and lifted his ban from Malawi.[11] Mutharika died in April 2012 and shortly afterward the British Foreign Secretary announced that a new high commissioner would be appointed.[12]

Personal life and awards

Cochrane-Dyet has been married to Susie since 1987, with three sons: James, Alex and William. He is currently enrolled at St Hugh's College, University of Oxford, reading for an MSc in African Studies,[13] where he rows for the St Hugh's College Boat Club.

Cochrane-Dyet was appointed OBE "for services to British foreign policy" in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2015.[14]

Notes

1. Change of British High Commissioner to the Republic of Zambia, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 8 July 2019
2. "OF Career Feature - Fergus Cochrane-Dyet OBE". www.felsted.org. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
3. Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Liberia, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 25 November 2014
4. Change of British High Commissioner to Zambia, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 11 February 2016
5. "UK Envoy Hails Zambia For Peace". The Zambian Voice. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
6. "Malawi threatens to expel British high commissioner over leaked remarks", The Guardian, 2011-04-19.
7. "Malawi expels British ambassador", The Guardian, 2011-04-27.
8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
9. "Britain expels Malawi ambassador in retaliation after envoy is ordered out", The Guardian, 2011-04-27.
10. Abel Wezzi, "UK makes good on its threat: Aid to Malawi cut off" Archived 8 December 2011 at Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Maravi Post, 2011-07-14.
11. "Deported UK envoy, Sata no longer personae non grata in Malawi" Archived 16 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Maravi Post, 2011-10-14.
12. Britain restores ties with Malawi after ambassador row, AFP via Google, 24 April 2012
13. http://wearejourney.co.uk, Journey- (23 October 2019). "Congratulations to father and son who matriculated at the same ceremony". St Hugh's College, Oxford. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
14. "No. 61256". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2015. p. B26.

References

• COCHRANE-DYET, Fergus John, Who's Who 2014, A & C Black, 2014 (online edition, Oxford University Press, 2014)