New Permanent Representative of Tonga Presents Credentials

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

The new Permanent Representative of Tonga to the United Nations, Viliami Va’inga Tone, presented his credentials to UN Secretary‑General António Guterres today.

Prior to his latest appointment, Mr. Tone was his country’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs, from 2013 to 2017, having served in that position from 2007 to 2010, and Lord Privy Seal in the Palace Office from 2011 to 2013.

From 2005 to 2006, Mr. Tone served as Acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and he sat in Cabinet, Privy Council and Parliament on several occasions.  He was Deputy Secretary and Chief of Protocol at the Ministry from 2002 to 2006 and acted as Secretary for Foreign Affairs on several occasions from 2002 to 2004.  Also at the Ministry, he served as Principal Assistant Secretary from 2000 to 2001 and as Military Liaison Officer from 1999 to 2000.  

Mr. Tone holds a Master of Military Studies from the Marine Corps University at Quantico, United States; a Master of Commerce in economics and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Wollongong University, Australia; and a certificate in diplomatic studies from Oxford University, United Kingdom.

Born in 1965, he is married with four children.