Melchior Bwakira (13 December 1937 – 2009) was a diplomat and dean of Burundian Diplomats. Bwakira served as

Minister of Foreign Affairs A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...

and co-operation

Minister of Transport A ministry of transport or transportation is a ministry responsible for transportation within a country. It usually is administered by the ''minister for transport''. The term is also sometimes applied to the departments or other government agen ...

, Telecommunications and Aeronautics (1972–1976). From 1978 to 1981 and from 1997 to 2001, Bwakira served as the Ambassador of Burundi to Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia. He was also the Burundian

Permanent Representative A permanent representative is a diplomat who is the head of a country’s diplomatic mission to an international organisation. Organizations that receive permanent representatives from their member states include the United Nations, the World Tr ...

to the Organization of African Unity (OAU, now

African Union The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the Africa ...

) and to the United Nations

Economic Commission for Africa The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA or ECA; french: link=no, Commission économique pour l'Afrique, CEA) was established in 1958 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council to encourage economic cooperation among its ...

(UNECA). From 1981 to 1986, Bwakira was the Burundian Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) in New York, to Cuba and Mexico. Bwakira, at the age of 24, was the first African Director of Radio Burundi in the early 1960s.

References

1937 births 2009 deaths Burundian diplomats Ambassadors of Burundi to Ethiopia Ambassadors of Burundi to Eritrea Ambassadors of Burundi to Djibouti Ambassadors of Burundi to Somalia Ambassadors of Burundi to Cuba Ambassadors of Burundi to Mexico Permanent Representatives of Burundi to the United Nations {{Burundi-bio-stub