Category talk:Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to South Africa

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South Africa

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International relations

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Politics

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This category needs to be split into two categories.[edit]

This category needs to be split into two categories - Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to South Africa and High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to South Africa as the titles 'Ambassador' and 'High Commissioner' are separate appointments. - (202.89.143.99 (talk) 10:57, 7 May 2015 (UTC))[reply]

Different appointment. Same function. I don't think this is necessary. -- Necrothesp (talk) 12:26, 20 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Ambassadors are appointed to non-Commonwealth countries, which South Africa was from 1961 to 1994. Diplomatic relations are conducted at governmental level.

High commissioners are appointed to Commonwealth countries, which South Africa was prior to 1961, and again since 1994. Diplomatic relations are conducted in various ways, depending whether the country is a Commonwealth realm, a Commonwealth republic, or one of the 5 native monarchies within the Commonwealth. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 119.224.80.18 (talk) 09:49, 17 October 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Still the same basic function, as I said above. The current British High Commissioner to South Africa functions in pretty much every way identically to the way the British Ambassador to South Africa did previously. It's just a semantic difference. -- Necrothesp (talk) 16:05, 20 October 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Why is there separate categories for Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to the Gambia & High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to the Gambia then? The process of appointment is NOT the same. - (119.224.80.18 (talk) 22:12, 14 December 2016 (UTC))[reply]

Mistake, I would say! The category name should have been changed like this one and merged. Are the High Commissioners members of the Diplomatic Service on the same grade as ambassadors? Check. Are they the representatives of one country to another? Check. Are they effectively exactly the same appointment with a difference only in nomenclature? Check. All you're doing is splitting hairs! -- Necrothesp (talk) 13:22, 21 December 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Both the Maldives and Zimbabwe are also former Commonwealth countries that no longer have High Commissioners appointed to them as well. The processes are very similar to the situations in The Gambia and South Africa - both having been outside the Commonwealth for a period. In the case of the Maldives, British Ambassadors were appointed to them between 1965 and 1982, and will resume being British Ambassadors to the Maldives, as the Maldives withdrew from the Commonealth in October 2016.

In the case of The Gambia, a British High Commissioner will be appointed in 2017 after Adama Barrow's inauguration as President of the Gambia, as The Gambia will resume its status as a Commonwealth republic. - (119.224.80.18 (talk) 08:05, 29 December 2016 (UTC)).[reply]