The southwest African nation of Angola has sent its fourth ambassador to the United States since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1993. Alberto do Carmo Bento Ribeiro, an engineer and experienced diplomat recently called the U.S. Angola’s “most important partner.” He was sworn in on June 29, 2011, and formally presented his credentials to President Barack Obama on September 9.

 

Bento Ribeiro studied electrical engineering at the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule in Aachen, Germany, from 1962 to 1966, with a thesis on “Potential Free DC Transmission,” and also attended university in Lisbon, Portugal. Returning to Angola, he engaged in scientific research. After Angola won its independence from Portugal in 1975, Bento Ribeiro served in several high government posts, including State Secretary of Communications and State Secretary and Minister of Industry, until 1984. He was a member of the Angolan National Assembly from 1980 to 1986 and a lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering at Agostinho Neto University in Luanda, Angola. Making a switch to diplomacy, Bento Ribeiro served as Ambassador of Angola to Namibia (1989), Zimbabwe (1994), Germany (2000) and, concurrently, the Czech Republic (2001).

 

Bento Ribeiro is married to Maria Odete Bento Ribeiro.

-Matt Bewig