Who is Rebecca Fabrizi, the UK’s new ambassador to South Sudan?

Rebecca Jane Fabrizi is a career British diplomat with more than three decades of experience in international diplomacy, including postings and senior roles across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean.

She is taking over as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to South Sudan from David Ashley in October 2026. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office announced her appointment in August. (GOV.UK)

But Fabrizi is not new to Africa—or to senior diplomatic responsibilities.

A diplomat with three decades of experience

Fabrizi joined the UK Foreign Office in 1994. Her first assignment was in the FCO’s Africa Department, where she worked on Equatorial Africa between 1994 and 1995. (GOV.UK)

She subsequently built a career spanning several regions and areas of international affairs.

Her diplomatic postings have included Beijing, where she served as Second Secretary (Commercial) and later First Secretary (Political); Geneva, where she worked on trade and development; Rome, where she served as Political Counsellor; Brussels, where she headed the China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Mongolia Division at the European External Action Service; Belgrade, where she served as Deputy Head of Mission and HM Consul General; and Canberra, where she worked as Associate Director of the Australian National University’s Centre on China in the World.

Her recent work has focused on AfricaBefore becoming ambassador-designate to South Sudan, Fabrizi served as the UK’s Deputy Director of the Africa Directorate from 2025. That followed a stint as Acting British High Commissioner in Lilongwe, Malawi, also in 2025.

Between 2022 and 2025, she served as the UK Special Envoy for Small Island Developing States and headed the Caribbean and Small Island Developing States Department.

The UK government describes her career as including work in Beijing, Rome, Belgrade, Geneva, Brussels and Malawi, as well as academic work in Australia. (GOV.UK)

What she says about coming to South Sudan

Following her appointment, Fabrizi said she was honoured to take up the position and looked forward to working with the South Sudanese government, civil society and international partners on peace, stability and development. (

That gives an indication of the areas likely to feature prominently in her work in Juba.

The UK mission in South Sudan engages with the government on political, security, economic, humanitarian and human-rights issues, as well as regional matters involving Sudan and South Sudan. (GOV.UK)

A career that began with Africa
One notable detail in Fabrizi’s CV is that her career with the UK Foreign Office began with Africa.

In 1994, she joined the FCO and worked in its Africa Department, covering Equatorial Africa. She later moved into diplomatic assignments across Asia and Europe before returning to senior Africa-focused responsibilities in recent years.

She also underwent Mandarin-language training before her posting to Beijing, giving her substantial experience in China and international relations involving Asia.

What South Sudanese may expect from her

Fabrizi arrives with experience in political diplomacy, international development, trade, conflict-related work, multilateral affairs and Africa policy.

Her immediate role will be to represent the UK government in South Sudan and oversee the work of the British Embassy in Juba. The UK says its engagement with South Sudan covers peace and stability, politics, security, the economy, humanitarian needs and human rights.

For South Sudanese audiences, therefore, Fabrizi is more than simply the diplomat replacing David Ashley. She is a senior British foreign-policy official whose career has taken her from Africa and China to European diplomacy, international development and senior Africa policy—and she now brings that experience to her first ambassadorial posting in South Sudan.

She is a senior British foreign-policy official whose career has taken her from Africa and China to European diplomacy, international development and senior Africa policy—and she now brings that experience to her first ambassadorial posting in South Sudan.