US President Donald Trump has nominated career diplomat Devin Kennington as the next US ambassador to Somalia, with his appointment now awaiting confirmation by the Senate.
WASHINGTON (Somali Report) — US President Donald Trump has nominated Devin Kennington to serve as Washington’s next ambassador to Somalia, the White House said, sending the nomination to the Senate for confirmation.
The White House announced on September 14 that Kennington, a California native and career US diplomat with experience in Africa, had been nominated as “Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Federal Republic of Somalia.”
Kennington cannot formally take up the ambassadorial post until the US Senate confirms his nomination, as required for presidential ambassadorial appointments.
If confirmed, he would become the first US ambassador to Somalia to formally hold the post since Richard H. Riley left the country earlier this year.
Riley, a veteran State Department diplomat, served as US ambassador to Somalia from 2024 until he was recalled to Washington in December 2025 as part of a broader shake-up of American diplomatic postings under the Trump administration.
Following Riley’s departure, the US Embassy in Mogadishu was headed by Justin Davis as chargé d’affaires, the senior diplomat responsible for running a mission in the absence of an ambassador.
Davis led the embassy for nearly eight months during a period in which security cooperation remained at the centre of relations between Washington and Mogadishu, particularly efforts to combat Al-Shabaab and strengthen law-enforcement cooperation.
The US Embassy said on September 10 that Davis had completed his assignment in Somalia, highlighting his role in advancing American priorities involving counterterrorism, law enforcement and immigration.
Davis has since been succeeded by Ruth Anne Stevens-Klitz, who is serving as the senior US diplomat in Somalia while Kennington’s nomination awaits Senate action.
The embassy said Stevens-Klitz would continue implementing the Trump administration’s policies and working to strengthen bilateral relations between the United States and Somalia.
Africa experience
Kennington has extensive experience in African affairs, including assignments dealing with countries in East and Central Africa.
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He previously worked in the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, including on issues involving the Great Lakes region and Central Africa.
His diplomatic career has also included work on US policy towards the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he spent time dealing with political and regional affairs.
Kennington has direct experience in the Horn of Africa as well, having previously served at the US Embassy in Djibouti, where he worked in the consular section.
The White House did not provide extensive biographical details when announcing his nomination, and it was not immediately clear when the Senate would begin its consideration of his appointment.
Security at centre of ties
Kennington’s nomination comes as security and counterterrorism remain central to the relationship between Washington and Mogadishu.
The United States is one of Somalia’s key international security partners and provides support to Somali forces fighting Al-Shabaab and Islamic State militants.
US Africa Command, or AFRICOM, has also continued conducting air strikes against militant targets in Somalia in coordination with the Somali federal government.
Washington’s broader engagement with Somalia also includes law enforcement, immigration and diplomatic cooperation, as well as support for efforts aimed at strengthening the country’s security institutions.
A confirmed ambassador would take charge of the US mission at a sensitive time for Somalia, where political disputes, insecurity and the future of international security support remain major issues.
If approved by the Senate, Kennington will assume leadership of the US diplomatic mission after months of interim leadership, becoming the principal American diplomatic representative in Somalia and a key figure in shaping Washington’s engagement with Mogadishu.
His confirmation process will determine when the United States can move from temporary leadership at its Mogadishu embassy to a fully appointed ambassadorial mission.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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