U.S. diplomacy in Morocco temporarily entrusted to Benjamin Ziff

Friday 29 August 2025 - 13:49

By: Sahili Aya

U.S. diplomacy in Morocco temporarily entrusted to Benjamin Ziff

The U.S. diplomatic mission in Rabat has entered a new phase with the temporary appointment of Benjamin Ziff as Chargé d’Affaires. Ziff, who arrived in Morocco on August 28, 2025, will lead the embassy until the official arrival of the next ambassador, Richard Duke Buchan III.

The U.S. Embassy announced the appointment through its social media accounts. On Facebook, the embassy shared a photo of Ziff and invited Moroccans to recommend places for him to visit in order to discover the country. On X (formerly Twitter), the institution highlighted the date of his arrival and his new responsibilities.

Ziff takes over leadership until Buchan’s nomination process is finalized. Proposed in March 2025 by President Donald Trump, Buchan’s candidacy was endorsed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in July. His official duties in Rabat will begin once he presents his credentials to Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, followed by a formal audience with HM King Mohammed VI.

A career diplomat, Ziff brings extensive experience. Before coming to Rabat, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, overseeing relations with Nordic and Baltic countries and public diplomacy programs across Europe. He was also Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia.

Since joining the State Department in 1988, Ziff has held key positions in public diplomacy in Australia, Israel, Panama, and Peru, as well as senior roles in Venezuela, Italy, and Iraq. A California native, he studied political science at California State University, Long Beach, and earned advanced degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and the National War College.

His temporary leadership underscores Washington’s commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership with Morocco, particularly as bilateral relations continue to expand in political, economic, and security fields.