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Molly Phee

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Molly Phee
NameMolly Phee
OfficeUnited States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
PresidentJoe Biden
Term startSeptember 19, 2022
PredecessorTibor P. Nagy Jr.
Office1United States Ambassador to South Sudan
President1Barack Obama, Donald Trump
Term start1October 11, 2015
Term end1January 20, 2021
Predecessor1Susan D. Page
Successor1Larry E. André Jr.
Birth placeUnited States
Alma materUniversity of Michigan (BA), Georgetown University (JD)
ProfessionDiplomat, lawyer

Molly Phee is a senior American diplomat and lawyer who has served as the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs since 2022. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, she previously held the post of United States Ambassador to South Sudan from 2015 to 2021. Her diplomatic career has focused extensively on Middle East and African affairs, with postings in Iraq, Egypt, and Kuwait, and she has played a key role in shaping United States foreign policy during critical periods in South Sudan's conflict and regional stability.

Early life and education

Phee was born in the United States and developed an early interest in international affairs. She pursued her undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then attended Georgetown University Law Center, a prominent institution known for its programs in international law, and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree, which provided a foundation for her subsequent career in public service and diplomacy.

Career

Before joining the United States Department of State, Phee worked as an attorney, applying her legal expertise to complex international issues. She entered the Foreign Service and quickly advanced, taking on challenging assignments that required negotiation and strategic policy analysis. Her early postings included roles focused on United Nations affairs and international security, where she contributed to multilateral diplomatic efforts and crisis management.

U.S. diplomatic service

Phee's diplomatic service includes significant postings across the Middle East and Washington, D.C.. She served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait and held senior advisor positions for the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. She was also the Director for Iraq at the National Security Council during the Obama administration, where she helped coordinate policy following the Iraq War. Other key roles included serving as the Political Minister-Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and as a political officer in Cairo.

Ambassador to South Sudan

Nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate, Phee presented her credentials as Ambassador to South Sudan in 2015. Her tenure, which extended into the Trump administration, was dominated by the brutal South Sudanese Civil War. She engaged directly with President Salva Kiir Mayardit, opposition figures, and regional bodies like the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to advocate for the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. Her work focused on humanitarian access, human rights, and supporting the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs

In 2022, Phee was nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed to lead the Bureau of African Affairs as Assistant Secretary of State. In this role, she oversees U.S. diplomatic engagement across the African continent. Key priorities have included addressing the conflict in Ethiopia, supporting democratic transitions in countries like Zambia, managing complex relations with Nigeria and Kenya, and responding to crises in the Sahel and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She represents the United States in high-level forums such as the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.

Awards and honors

For her distinguished service, Phee has received several prestigious awards from the United States Department of State. These include the Secretary of State's Award for Excellence in International Security Affairs and the Director General’s Award for Reporting. She has also been recognized with the William R. Rivkin Award for constructive dissent by a mid-career officer, highlighting her principled advocacy within the diplomatic corps.

Category:American diplomats Category:United States ambassadors to South Sudan Category:United States Assistant Secretaries of State