The key facts
- Alexei Sentebov has been appointed Russian ambassador to Botswana, Georgy Chepik to Gabon
- Andrei Kemarsky has been relieved of his duties as ambassador to Botswana, where he had worked since October 2020
- Both new ambassadors are MGIMO graduates with experience of diplomatic work in Africa
New ambassadors to two African countries
Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Alexei Sentebov as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Botswana, and Georgy Chepik as Ambassador to Gabon. The decrees were published on the official legal information portal; this was reported on November 10 by Life.ru and Gazeta.Ru. In a separate decree, the head of state relieved Andrei Kemarsky of his duties as ambassador to Botswana, a post he had held since October 2020.
Who are Sentebov and Chepik
Both appointments involve career diplomats with African experience. Sentebov previously headed the Russian Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from August 2017 to October 2024. Gazeta.Ru provides a more detailed biography: he graduated from MGIMO in 1988, has been in the diplomatic service since 1990, speaks French, English and Arabic, worked at the Consulate General in Strasbourg (2004–2008), served as Consul General in Haifa (2013–2017), and in 2018 received the rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, First Class.
Chepik's experience
Georgy Chepik was Russia's ambassador to the Republic of the Congo from July 2019 to January 2024. According to Gazeta.Ru, he graduated from MGIMO in 1991, also speaks French, Arabic and English, worked in the Africa Department of the Foreign Ministry, held the post of Minister-Counselor at the embassy in South Africa (2011–2012), and in 2019 received the rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Second Class. Thus, both new ambassadors continue working on the African track, where they already have a track record.
Context of the personnel reshuffle
The appointment to Botswana means a change of ambassador who led the mission for more than five years. Earlier, at the end of September, Putin also signed a decree appointing Igor Romanchenko as ambassador to Costa Rica, relieving Yuri Bedzhanyan, who had represented Russia in that country since 2019, of the post — this was reported by Life.ru. In August, according to Gazeta.Ru, the president also changed the ambassador in Iraq.
