The new Permanent Representative of Burundi to the United Nations, Zéphyrin Maniratanga, paid a courtesy call on UN Secretary-General António Guterres today. He earlier presented his credentials to the Secretariat on 12 March.  (See Press Release BIO/5389.)

Before his latest appointment, Mr. Maniratanga was Chief of State Protocol and Head of his country’s Diplomatic and Protocol Office, a post he took up in October 2020.  Before that he served as Chief of Protocol for the Presidency of Burundi, beginning in October 2010.

Mr. Maniratanga diplomatic experience includes service as Chargé d’affaires at Burundi’s Embassy in India between 2009 and 2010 and in other capacities at the country’s embassies in Canada (2007-2009) and South Africa (2006-2007).

Between 2004 and 2005, he was a Counsellor in the Department of International Organizations, with a portfolio covering relations with the United Nations, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  Mr. Maniratanga was in charge of relations with Belgium, France and Italy from 2000 until 2002.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon, a master’s degree in international and comparative environmental law from Limoges University and a diploma in advanced human rights studies from the University of Nantes, both in France. - United Nations