Biographical Note

UNIS/BIO/677

10 June 2003

 

 NEW PERMANENT OBSERVER OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

VIENNA, 10 June (UN Information Service) -- The new Permanent Observer of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to the United Nations Offices in Geneva and Vienna, Babacar Ba, presented his credentials today to Antonio Maria Costa, Director-General of the United Nations Office in Vienna (UNOV).

Prior to taking up his current post in February 2003, Mr. Ba was Cabinet Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the African Union and of Senegalese Living Abroad (November 2001 to January 2003).  From July to December 2002, he combined this position with that of Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Senegal.

 

From 2000 to 2001, Mr. Ba was Director of the monthly Afrique-Asie. From 1994 to 2000, he worked at the Office of the Permanent Observer to the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as well as of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Settlement Programme (HABITAT) in Nairobi, Kenya.

Mr. Ba joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1982. During his first decade of service, his appointments included that of First Counsellor and Acting Head of Mission at the Senegalese High Commission in Gambia (as well as being accredited to Sierra Leone and Liberia).  From 1985 to 1986, Mr. Ba served as Head of the European Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From 1992 to 1994, he simultaneously served as Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the National Francophone Commission in Dakar, as well as Director of the Europe-America-Oceania Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Ba has also participated in Senegalese delegations to various conferences of international organizations in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.  These included the fifty-seventh session of the UN General Assembly in New York, OAU regular and special sessions of ministerial councils and of heads of States and governments, and ECA ministerial sessions (1995-2000).

Born on 10 December 1954 in Leopoldville – Kinshasha (Congo), Mr. Ba received his Licence Es Lettres from the University of Dakar in 1979, a Higher Certificate in Islamic Civilization from the University of Dakar in 1980 and a degree from the Ecole nationale d’administration et de magistrature in 1982.

He is married and has four children.

 

 

 

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