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🇳🇵 Nepal /Elections & Politics

Government extends terms of six ambassadors

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The Nepali government has extended the terms of six ambassadors until their successors are appointed, aiming to prevent further vacancies in diplomatic missions.
  • This decision comes as 17 Nepali missions currently lack ambassadors, and the appointment process for new envoys, selected through an open call under the political quota, is expected to take months.
  • The government also plans to close embassies in Denmark, Brazil, and South Africa, and reduce other diplomatic offices as part of a budget announcement.

Nepal's government has opted to extend the service of six ambassadors facing retirement, a move aimed at averting a worsening diplomatic vacuum. The decision, made during a Cabinet meeting, allows these career diplomats to continue their posts until replacements are found.

This measure addresses the critical shortage of ambassadors, with 17 Nepali missions already operating without appointed envoys. The process for selecting new ambassadors, particularly those appointed under the political quota following an open application, is anticipated to be lengthy, potentially taking several months to complete.

all those receiving extensions are career diplomats.

— senior Foreign Ministry officialThe official confirmed the status of the extended ambassadors.

In parallel, the government has announced plans to streamline its diplomatic presence by closing embassies in Denmark, Brazil, and South Africa. This initiative, detailed in the budget, also includes shutting down consulate general offices in San Francisco and Chengdu, along with a branch office in Visakhapatnam. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has initiated the process to fill 13 envoy positions through a competitive selection, with recommendations for five joint secretaries already forwarded to the Prime Minister's Office.

the decision was taken to prevent more diplomatic missions from falling vacant

— senior Foreign Ministry officialThe official explained the rationale behind extending the ambassadors' terms.
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Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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