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On 12 August 2025, in an official ceremony at Riga Castle, the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, presented credentials to the incoming Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the Commonwealth of Australia, Samija Šerifa.
Samija Šerifa began her career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2007 in the Middle East and Africa Department. She has also worked in the Schengen Division of the Consular Department.
Samija Šerifa has been posted to the Latvian Embassies in the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Turkey.
Samija Šerifa has served as Head of the Middle East and Africa Department, and from 2021 to the present time – as Director of the Second Bilateral Relations Department.
The Ambassador holds a bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern politics and culture from the University of London. She is fluent in English, Arabic, and Russian.
Samija Šerifa succeeds Marģers Krams, who has represented Latvia’s interests in Australia since 2021 as the first resident Latvian Ambassador to Australia.