U.S. Embassy in Banjul Welcomes Robert Anderson as New Deputy Chief of Mission

The United States Embassy in Banjul has announced the appointment of Mr. Robert Anderson as the new Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM). Until his appointment, Mr. Anderson served as the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy.

A seasoned career member of the U.S. Foreign Service, Anderson brings a wealth of diplomatic and public engagement experience. Most recently, he spearheaded public engagement initiatives at the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai, India, where he directed educational, cultural, and media programs across five Indian states.

His diplomatic career includes roles as Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia; Deputy Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands; and Press Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.

In Washington, D.C., Anderson served as Africa Policy Advisor in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs and as Senior Advisor in the Bureau of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs’ Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources. His earlier overseas assignments also spanned political, economic, and consular roles at U.S. embassies in Uruguay and Nigeria.

Before joining the Foreign Service, Anderson dedicated himself to community service, working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Armenia—where he supported small business development—and as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in his home state of Oregon.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Oregon State University and a Master’s degree in International Development from the University of Denver. A linguist with global reach, Anderson is fluent in Dutch and Armenian, and proficient in Spanish.

Anderson is married to a fellow Foreign Service Officer, and they have two children.

The U.S. Embassy extended a warm welcome, urging Gambians to join in embracing Anderson as he begins his new role in The Gambia, fondly known as the “Smiling Coast of Africa.”