Michael Battle is the New US Ambassador to Tanzania

The United States Senate has confirmed Michael Battle as the new US Ambassador to Tanzania

Battle, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, is expected to report to his new station in Dar es Salaam from the first quarter of 2023.

The American diplomat takes over from the departing envoy, Dr Don Wright, who was appointed by Donald Trump.

Michael A. Battle, born on July 28, 1950 is a US diplomat, chaplain, and academic administrator who previously served as US ambassador to the African Union between 2009 and 2013.

He has now been designated to serve as United States ambassador to Tanzania effective from January 2023.

Michael Battle’s career in public service spans four decades.

He was a leader as a diplomat, in academia, in the faith community and as a military chaplain.

Battle was also a Provost at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio from 2015 to 2016.

He previously served as the Senior Advisor to the Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State for the U.S. Africa Leaders Summit in 2014.

Before that he was the United States Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the United States Ambassador to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Dr Battle was also the President of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia and was chair of The Robert W. Woodruff Library of The Atlanta University.

The envoy served as Vice President at Chicago State University from 1998 to 2003.

Again he worked as an associate Vice President at Virginia State University from 1996-1998, and University Chaplain at Hampton University from 1976-1996.

Battle was Vice President of the American Committee on Africa from 1994-1998 and participated as an Election Observer in 1994 for the first Free Election in South Africa.

Additionally, he served for 20 years as a Chaplain in the United States Army Reserve, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1997.

Dr. Battle received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College, a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Howard University.