Crucial missions headless as ambassadorial appointments face delays

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s permanent missions in New York and Geneva, as well as its embassies in five countries, are functioning without their respective mission heads due to the government’s delay in filling up vacant ambassadorial positions. As a result, junior officers have assumed temporary leadership responsibilities at these crucial diplomatic missions.

The government needs to appoint ambassadors to permanent missions in New York and Geneva, as well as in Kuwait, the UAE, Thailand, Canada, and France. However, the government hasn’t made any preparations to fill up the vacant positions yet.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken a policy of appointing joint secretaries as the deputy heads of missions in countries like China, India, and the US, as well as the UN missions. But the ministry has been failing to make the appointments on time. Joint Secretary Kumar Kharel is currently serving as Deputy Head of the Mission in the US, while Joint Secretary Sushil Lamsal held the same position in Beijing for four years. However, only a few joint secretaries have completed a full four-year term as deputy heads of missions.

The ministry has been favoring joint secretaries for the position of deputy head in key missions, although they don’t prefer to stay in a mission for the full term of four years. That is why some suggest that senior under secretaries could be deputed as deputy heads in those missions.

The government’s tradition of making ambassadorial appointments based on seniority has been violated. The first case of the violation of seniority was the appointment of Durga Bahadur Subedi to Japan. Foreign ministry officials say the appointment was made under pressure from Nepali Congress leader Arzu Rana Deuba, spouse of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. Although Subedi has maintained that his deputation to Japan was under the ‘political quota’ and not as a career diplomat, ministry officials claim that Subedi was ‘rewarded’ for the courtesy he extended to the Deuba family while serving as the head of the Nepali mission in London.

The government is considering sending political figures to some missions and avoiding career diplomats nearing retirement.

Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud has stated that ambassadorial appointments will be made after his return from Azerbaijan. The government is considering sending political figures to some missions and avoiding career diplomats nearing retirement. Sources say joint secretaries, who have been waiting for ambassadorial appointments for a long time, may finally get the opportunity.

Several ambassadors have returned to Nepal after completing their terms. Amrit Bahadur Rai returned to Kathmandu this week after completing his four-year term and an additional three months as the Head of Nepal’s Permanent Mission in New York. Similarly, Bhrigu Dhungana returned to Nepal a month ago after completing his term in Canada. Likewise, Deepak Adhikari is returning to Nepal soon after completing his four-year term and an additional three months in Paris. Mani Bhattarai has also returned from the permanent mission in Geneva. Similarly, Krishna Prasad Dhakal (UAE), Durga Prasad Bhandari (Kuwait), and Ganesh Prasad Dhakal (Thailand) have also returned. Except for Bhattarai, Adhikari, and Dhakal, who have retired from foreign service, all the returnees will have to rejoin the foreign ministry.

According to the Regulations Related to Appointment of Ambassadors, 2018, the Council of Ministers has to appoint at least 50% of ambassadorial posts from among the incumbent officers of the gazetted special class or first class of the foreign service, based on the recommendation of the foreign affairs ministry. This implies that secretaries or joint secretaries of the foreign ministry need to be deputed to at least 16 of Nepal’s 33 missions. Going by the regulations, the government will have to appoint foreign service officials to at least three of the seven vacant ambassadorial positions.

Based on seniority among joint secretaries serving at the ministry, Tej Bahadur Chhetri, Lok Bahadur Thapa, and Sudhir Bhattarai are likely candidates for ambassadorial appointments. Additionally, Ghanashyam Lamsal, Ram Prasad Subedi, Dhan Bahadur Oli, Kaushal Kishor Yadav, Rital Dhital, and Surendra Yadav could also be considered.

Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Poudyal, who is set to retire in November, is also eyeing ambassadorial positions, particularly in the Permanent Mission in New York or the Nepali Embassy in Canada. If all seven vacant posts are filled from the foreign service, it could affect the day-to-day functioning of the ministry due to the recent retirement of three joint secretaries.

First female foreign secretary

Sewa Lamsal is almost sure to become Nepal’s first female foreign secretary. If Secretary Poudyal is considered for an ambassadorial appointment, she could be appointed secretary this month itself. Otherwise, she will have to wait until November when Secretary Poudyal takes retirement.

When the post of Secretary becomes vacant, the three senior-most joint secretaries are recommended for promotion. This means Amrit Bahadur Rai and Krishna Prasad Dhakal would be recommended along with Lamsal. Given the existing tradition of honoring seniority for appointment, Lamsal is most likely to be considered for promotion to secretary.

Lamsal currently serves as the ministry’s spokesperson and heads the UN, International Organizations & International Law Division. She previously served as Nepal’s ambassador to Pakistan.