On Thursday 13 February the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom, H.E Brian Olley, was received by the President of Equatorial Guinea during an official event at the People’s Palace in Malabo. Mr Olley, who resides in Yaoundé, Cameroon, presented his letter of credence to President Obiang which was duly accepted. This marks the first such appointment to Equatorial Guinea by the United Kingdom.
The letter of credence is an official document from Her Majesty The Queen, as UK Head of State. It formally grants diplomatic accreditation to Mr Olley as Her Majesty’s Government’s official representative with ambassadorial responsibility for Equatorial Guinea.
Mr Olley was appointed to be the British High Commissioner to Equatorial Guinea’s neighbouring Cameroon in September 2013. Prior to this, he served as the Deputy High Commissioner in Cyprus. His Foreign and Commonwealth Office career has covered a wide range of roles including work in Afghanistan and Finland. Mr Olley started his career in Her Majesty’s Forces where he served in New York (on secondment to the United Nations), as well as Hong Kong, Nepal, Germany, and Canada.
The new Ambassador of South Africa, Victor Rambau, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Adadu Echi, and the Ambassador of Australia in Equatorial Guinea, Jane Maria Handy, also presented their credential letters to the Minister of Foreign Affairs during the ceremony.
Her Excellency Mari-Cruz Evuna Andeme, Equatorial Guinea’s Ambassador in London commented: “This strengthening of ties is a significant step in the development of bilateral relations between Equatorial Guinea and the United Kingdom. I look forward to seeing this relationship continue to grow for the benefit of citizens in both countries.”