US President Joe Biden recently announced the appointment of James Story as the new US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Mozambican President.
According to a statement issued by the White House, this appointment represents an important milestone in diplomatic relations between the two countries. James Story is described as a career diplomat with vast experience, and is a member of the Senior Diplomatic Service in the rank of Minister-Counsellor. He currently holds the position of Senior Fellow – a highly qualified and experienced professional – at Georgetown University, after completing his term as US Ambassador to Venezuela.
James Story’s career is remarkable, ‘having served in various capacities in several countries. Before becoming ambassador, he was acting chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy in Caracas (Venezuela) and led the Venezuela Affairs Unit, based at the US Embassy in Bogotá (Colombia). In addition, he served as consul general at the US Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and as director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement for the Western Hemisphere and Colombia,’ reads the statement.
The document also emphasises that James Story played a crucial role as a senior civilian in the Rakkasan task force in RC-East Afghanistan and held various positions in US embassies and consulates in Brazil, Mozambique and Mexico.
In academic terms, according to the official statement, James Story holds Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees from South Carolina College of the University of South Carolina, as well as a Master of Diplomatic Service (M.S.) from Georgetown University. His career has been marked by multiple distinctions, including the Presidential Class Award, the Director of National Intelligence’s Exceptional Service Award, the Department of the Army’s Superior Civilian Service Award, and several State Department awards, such as the Warren Christopher Award for Outstanding Achievement in Global Affairs and a Distinguished Honour Award.
“James Story is married to Susan West Story and has a son, James McKelvey Story. A native of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, Story speaks fluent Spanish and Portuguese, which will certainly facilitate his integration in Mozambique and contribute to the strengthening of bilateral relations between the US and Mozambique,’ the statement said.
