Marie Higgins will lead a mission in Madagascar for the coming weeks. As the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, responsible for U.S. policy in Southern Africa, she will head the U.S. Embassy in Madagascar as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim. She takes over following the departure of Stephanie Arnold, who served as Chargé d’Affaires after Ambassador Claire Pierangelo concluded her mission.
“I look forward to working with you in the coming weeks to further strengthen the already strong relationship between the United States and Madagascar,” the diplomat stated on the sidelines of the World Cup final screening organized by the U.S. Embassy. While awaiting the appointment of a new U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar, Melanie Higgins will oversee the management and operations of the embassy in her capacity as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
A career diplomat, Melanie Higgins brings nearly 30 years of experience in U.S. diplomacy. In her previous role as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, overseeing U.S. policy in Southern Africa and regional peace and security programs in sub-Saharan Africa, she led the U.S. delegation to Madagascar during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit held in Antananarivo last year.
From 2021 to 2023, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to Burundi. Throughout her career, she has also held diplomatic positions in Indonesia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Australia, and Cameroon.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-23 10:08:38 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
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