Biographical Note

New Permanent Representative of Guinea-Bissau Presents Credentials

 

(Based on information provided by the Protocol and Liaison Service)

The new Permanent Representative of Guinea-Bissau to the United Nations, João Soares da Gama, presented his credentials today to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Mr. Da Gama currently serves as Counsellor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities, and as Focal Point for the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP).

Prior to that appointment, Mr. Da Gama held several positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities, most recently as Director.  In 2005, he served as Counsellor and Focal Point for Presidential Elections.  Between 2002 and 2004, he was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Guinea-Bissau to France.  Prior to that, between 1994 and 2000, he served as Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Guinea-Bissau to the United Nations.

He has also represented his country at several international conferences, among them, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Preparatory Commission of the International Seabed Authority, the Committee of Eminent Persons for the Review of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court.

Mr. Da Gama pursued studies in languages and economics, in Brasov, Romania (1973‑1977), as well as in law, at the University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania (1977‑1981).  He speaks Portuguese, French, English and Romanian.

Born on 26 December 1955 in Bafatá, Guinea-Bissau, Mr. Da Gama is married and has three children.

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For information media • not an official record