Biographical Note

New permanent representative of CONGO presents credentials

 

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

The new Permanent Representative of the Congo to the United Nations, Raymond Serge Balé, today presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

At the time of his appointment, Mr. Balé was serving as his country’s Ambassador in Ethiopia and as the Permanent Representative to the African Union and to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, positions which he has held since March 2005.

Mr. Balé has held a number of posts throughout his 27-year diplomatic career including, from 2002 to 2005, as a member of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Steering Committee.

Before that, he served as Secretary-General of the Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Francophone Affairs and as Inspector-General for Diplomatic and Consular Missions.  From 1994 to 1998, he was the Deputy Secretary-General and Head of Political Affairs, Multilateral Cooperation and Francophone Affairs. 

Mr. Balé has also served as a member of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, from 1997 to 1990, and as a counsellor for the Permanent Mission of the Congo to the United Nations from 1985 to 1992.  During that same period of time, when the Congo held a non-permanent seat in the Security Council, Mr. Balé served as a member of the Congolese delegation to that body.

Shortly after beginning his diplomatic career in 1981, Mr. Balé was appointed the Head of Division of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission of the Congolese Ministry of Cooperation and, one year later, as Director of the Bilateral Cooperation at the Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Before beginning his career in diplomacy, Mr. Balé worked as a teacher.

The new Ambassador received his post-graduate diploma in social sciences at the University of Leicester in Great Britain and later studied government and politics at St. John’s University in New York.

Born in Brazzaville in 1949, Mr. Balé is married with six children.

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For information media • not an official record