WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Minnesota native Scott DeLisi is headed for
Eritrea as the U.S. ambassador, State Department officials confirmed Monday.
The Senate confirmed DeLisi as ambassador to the East African nation early
last month, after President Bush nominated him in January. He will take over
for Ambassador Donald McConnell later this year.
Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., met with DeLisi after his confirmation to
discuss Minnesota's Eritrean population and said DeLisi is the right choice for
Eritrea, which he called "a key ally in the war on terror."
DeLisi is a career foreign service officer. Most recently, he served as
director of the State Department Southern African Affairs office. He also has
served as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Botswana and as a
political officer in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Islamabad, Pakistan.
He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota and his law
degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.
Libby George
Unlimited, high
