The US Senate has confirmed President Barack Obama’s pick to be ambassador to South Sudan.

By voice vote, the Senate on Wednesday confirmed Mary Catherine Phee of Illinois as ambassador to South Sudan.

A career member of the foreign service, Ms Phee is currently the chief-of-staff at the office of the special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan.

She previously served as deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, from 2011 to 2014, having worked in Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Egypt and Jordan.

Ms Phee holds a B.A. from Indiana University and Masters in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University.