Reuben Brigety while giving a speech at the University of the South in the US. Photo: University of The South
Reuben Brigety: Biden’s new pick for US Ambassador to South Africa
US President Joe Biden has decided that Reuben Brigety should be the next US Ambassador to South Africa. Is he an upgrade from Trump’s pick?
Reuben Brigety while giving a speech at the University of the South in the US. Photo: University of The South
From handbag designer to longtime ambassador and university Vice-Chancellor? US President Joe Biden has officially nominated Reuben Brigety to serve as the new US ambassador to South Africa. But who is he and is he any good? He certainly has quite an impressive CV.
Who is Reuben Brigety?
Reuben Brigety has a long and impressive history in diplomacy. He has previously served as the US ambassador to the African Union. He is also currently the Vice Chancellor at the University of the South.
His connections to African politics don’t stop just there. Brigety served as the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of African Affairs from 2011 to 2013.
That’s not all. The White House says he has a whole host of other jobs he is currently doing too.
“Reuben Brigety currently serves as an Adjunct Senior Fellow for African Peace and Security at the Council on Foreign Relations. And as a Member of the Board of Counselors of McLarty Associates in Washington, D.C. Brigety previously served as the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of the South and the Mayor of Sewanee, Tennessee. During the Obama-Biden Administration, Brigety held several roles in the State Department.”
US Government statetment confirming Brigety’s nomination.
Well travelled, well educated, no handbags
Brigety holds a Masters In Philosophy in International Affairs. He also obtained a Ph.D in International Affairs from the iconic Cambridge University in the UK.
Once confirmed by the US Senate, Brigety will replace Lana Marks. Marks had no diplomatic experience before being handpicked for the job by former President Donald Trump. Marks was originally born in East London in the Eastern Cape. She moved to the US in the 1970s and found success with high-end fashion handbags.
She met Trump in Florida after emigrating. She served just 14 months as SA’s ambassador before calling it quits after Trump was voted out.
Want to get a better sense of what the incoming Brigety stands for? Take a listen to one of his addresses to the Oxford Union, on the African Union.
