Spain renews ambassadors in Syria, Sudan, and Eritrea and dismisses special envoys

The Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado) number 209, dated August 26, 2026, publishes in its section II.A a renewal of the Spanish diplomatic leadership in the Middle East and Africa. The Council of Ministers, meeting on August 25, has dismissed the special envoys to Syria and Sudan and has appointed new ambassadors to Syria, Sudan, and Eritrea, in addition to appointing a new liaison magistrate to the authorities of the United States and Canada.

All appointments are adopted upon the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares Bueno, and following deliberation by the Council of Ministers, and bear the signature of Felipe VI. The royal decrees are published in the Appointments, situations, and incidents section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.

Dismissals of the special envoys

Royal Decree 688/2026, of August 25, provides for the dismissal of Antonio González-Zavala Peña as Special Envoy for Syria (reference BOE-A-2026-18153, p. 116813). For its part, Royal Decree 689/2026, of August 25, dismisses Daniel Losada Millar as Special Envoy for Sudan (reference BOE-A-2026-18154, p. 116814).

Both dismissals occurred during the same meeting of the Council of Ministers and make way for the new diplomatic representation structure in the region.

New ambassadors to Syria, Sudan, and Eritrea

Royal Decree 690/2026, of August 25, appoints Antonio González-Zavala Peña as Ambassador of Spain to the Syrian Arab Republic (reference BOE-A-2026-18155, p. 116815), who thus transitions from special envoy to resident ambassador.

Royal Decree 691/2026, of August 25, appoints Daniel Losada Millar as Ambassador of Spain to the Republic of Sudan (reference BOE-A-2026-18156, p. 116816). Royal Decree 692/2026, of August 25, appoints the same person as Ambassador of Spain to the State of Eritrea, residing in Khartoum (reference BOE-A-2026-18157, p. 116817).

In summary, the appointments are as follows:

• Antonio González-Zavala Peña: ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic.
• Daniel Losada Millar: ambassador to the Republic of Sudan and to the State of Eritrea, residing in Khartoum.

New liaison magistrate in the United States and Canada

In the same gazette, the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts publishes Order PJC/892/2026, of August 21, by which Íñigo Herrero Elejalde is appointed Liaison Magistrate to the authorities of the United States of America, with extended accreditation to the competent authorities of Canada (reference BOE-A-2026-18160, p. 116820).

The appointment is made through the discretionary appointment procedure, with a favorable report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation and the General Council of the Judiciary, and takes effect from the day following its publication in the BOE. The position was announced via the Resolution of April 24, 2026, of the Secretariat of State for Justice.

Relevance of the renewal

The simultaneous renewal of the embassies in Syria, Sudan, and Eritrea reflects the commitment of Spanish diplomacy to strengthen its presence in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, regions of growing strategic interest. The conversion of special envoys into resident ambassadors, along with the reinforcement of judicial cooperation in North America, consolidates a more stable diplomatic and liaison network at a time of high geopolitical tension.

Source: Official State Gazette, no. 209, Wednesday, August 26, 2026, section II.A, pp. 116813-116820 (official references: BOE-A-2026-18153, BOE-A-2026-18154, BOE-A-2026-18155, BOE-A-2026-18156, BOE-A-2026-18157, and BOE-A-2026-18160).