Michael Ranneberger

Michael E. Ranneberger, a U.S. Foreign Service Officer with the rank of minister-counselor, became U.S. Ambassador to Kenya on 31 July 2006, and is resident in Nairobi. His prior assignment was as Senior Representative on Sudan in the Bureau of African Affairs in 2006; Sudan borders Kenya. From 2004 to 2005, he was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs. He served as Special Advisor on Sudan from 2002 to 2004. From 1999 to 2002 he was U.S. Ambassador to Mali.

From July 1995 to July 1999, as Coordinator for Cuban Affairs, Mr. Ranneberger helped lead U.S. policy to promote a peaceful democratic transition in Cuba, in part by intensifying support for human rights activists and the development of independent civil society. Immediately prior to assuming the Cuba position, he spent six months in Haiti setting up and running an inter-agency Task Force on Justice and Security-Related Issues.

In August 1994, he became Deputy Chief of Mission in Mogadishu, Somalia. His service as Deputy Chief of Mission in Maputo, Mozambique from 1986 to 1989 included eight months as charge d' affaires ad interim during the civil war, while the U.S. Agency for International Development was running a large humanitarian relief operation. As Angola Desk Officer in Washington (1981-1984) he worked as a member of Assistant Secretary Chester Crocker's team negotiating independence for Namibia, and the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola.

From 1989-1992 he served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Asuncion, Paraguay, where he was involved in supporting the post-Stroessner democratic transition. While Deputy Director for Central American Affairs during 1992-1994 he helped oversee implementation of the peace accords in El Salvador and efforts to end the internal conflict in Guatemala. After working as a Special Assistant to Under Secretary Michael Armacost from 1984 to 1985, he was awarded an International Affairs Fellowship at the Council on Foreign Relations.

He has a B.A. from Towson State University in Baltimore and an M.A. in history from the University of Virginia.