Today I announce the appointment of Mr Peter Doyle as Australia's next Ambassador to Ethiopia, with concurrent responsibility for Australia's relations with the African Union (AU) and non-resident accreditation to Central African Republic, Djibouti and South Sudan.
Australia's relations with Ethiopia continue to expand and are strengthened by our people to people links. Ongoing economic reform in Ethiopia will bring further opportunities for Australian business, including in the resources sector.
Ethiopia hosts the AU, the regional organisation promoting integration, prosperity and peace across Africa. Implementation of the AU's recently signed framework agreement for an African Continental Free Trade Area will boost intra-African trade and could also present new opportunities for Australian companies.
Australia's interests in South Sudan remain strong with our troop contribution to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan and our longstanding humanitarian assistance. More than 30,000 Australians claim South Sudanese ancestry.
Mr Doyle is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Chargé d'Affaires, Australian Embassy, Brasilia. He has previously served overseas as Head of Mission, Australian Embassy, Dili; Head of Mission, Australian Embassy, Ankara; in addition to postings in Malaysia and Bangladesh. In Canberra, he has served as Assistant Secretary, European Union and Western Europe Branch and Director, People Smuggling, Refugees and Immigration Section.
Mr Doyle holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Queensland.
I thank outgoing Ambassador Mark Sawers for his contributions to advancing Australia's interests in Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Djibouti, South Sudan and with the African Union since 2014.
