DUBAI: The US government will seek a new ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, a key ally of Washington in the Gulf, to replace Michele J Sison, who will end her duties in the coming days, people familiar with situation have said.
“She’ll be leaving in the coming days,” said one person close to the US embassy in the UAE capital, adding Sison’s term had come to an end and was unlikely to be renewed.
The diplomat is the second female US ambassador to the UAE and has won numerous US State Department awards for exceptional service. She was sworn in on July 12, 2004 by then-secretary of state Colin Powell.
“No replacement has yet been found,” another person told Zawya Dow Jones.
Deputy ambassador Martin R. Quinn will take charge until a replacement is named, the person said.
“Career foreign service officers serving as ambassadors generally have a typical tenure of three-four years. But it’s the president’s decision,” said Steve Pike, a spokesman for the US embassy.
Sison, a keen advocator of women’s rights in the Middle East, previously served in Pakistan, India, Cameroon and Haiti. It is not known where Sison will be posted next. – Agencies