Six new Ambassadors accredited to the Holy See

Ethiopia, Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi, Qatar and Mauritania. The new Ambassadors of these six countries met with Pope Francis in the Clementine Hall on Saturday morning, 8 June, to present their Letters of Credence accrediting them to the Holy See. The following are short biographies of the new ambassadors.

Ethiopia

H.E. Ms Mahlet Hailu Guadey was born on 23 November 1976. She graduated in political sciences and international relations from the University of Addis Ababa, and obtained a master’s degree in international relations from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers in Paris. Since entering the diplomatic service, she has served as: attaché at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1998-2002); third and then second secretary of the Department for Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2002-2004); deputy consul in Los Angeles, California, United States of America (2004-2007); first secretary of the Embassy in France (2007-2009); chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of France (2009-2010); director of the Department for Peace and Security of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2010-2011); head of protocol at the Office of the Prime Minister (2011-2016); deputy permanent representative, with rank of Ambassador, at the United Nations in New York (2016-2018); head of the areas of the Americas, Asia, Europe and multilateral affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2019-2020); and deputy permanent representative, with rank of Ambassador, at the United Nations in Geneva (2021-2022). She is currently ambassador and permanent delegate to unesco in Paris (since 2023).

Zambia

H.E. Ms Macenje Mazoka is married with two daughters. She graduated in journalism (Broadcast Journalism / Developmental Psychology) from Howard University, Washington, D.C., United States of America, and obtained a master’s degree in media management from the New School University, New York, and a certificate in the Executive Management Development Programme of the University of Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa. She has served as: presenter for the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (znbc), Zambia (1989); manager, Educational Services & Outreach, whut-tv Howard University Public Broadcasting, Washington, D.C. (1991-1995); director at the Educational and Youth Children’s Outreach, and then director of National Partnerships & Community Events, at Thirteen/wnwt, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), New York, NY (2004-2006); lecturer in Media Literacy and Media Ethics at The New School University, New York, NY (1998-2007); general manager, Business Development, South Africa Broadcasting (sabc), Johannesburg (2010-2012); head of Funding and Partnerships, South Africa Broadcasting (sabc), Johannesburg (2006-2021), head of Regional Communications/Stakeholder Relations, sabc, Johannesburg (2021-2023) and High Commissioner in the United Kingdom (since 2023).

Tanzania

H.E. Mr Hassan Iddi Mwamweta was born on 16 July 1978. He is married with four children. He obtained a licentiate in political sciences and international relations from the University of Dar es Salaam (2004), a master’s degree in development studies (mds) from the University of Dar es Salaam (2009), and a postgraduate diploma (First Class) in foreign service management from the Mozambican-Tanzanian Centre for Foreign Affairs (2013). He has served as: administrator officer, Office of the Commissioner of the Rukwa Region (2005); consultant for investigations II at the Commission on Human Rights and Good Governance (2005-2007); consultant for investigations I at the Commission on Human Rights and Responsible Governance (2007-2009), second secretary, Department of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2009-2014); first secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2014-2019); liaison office, Protocol of former President of the Republic H.E. Mr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (2015-2019); advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2019-2020); head of the Department of Europe and the Americas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2020-2021); chancellor and advisor, Embassy in Turkey (2021-2023); and ambassador in Germany (since December 2023).

Burundi

H.E. Ms Annonciata Sendazirasa was born on 17 November 1963. She is married with five children. She was awarded a licentiate in history from the University of Burundi (1991) and a master’s degree in sociology from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium (1993). Among others things she has served as: employee of Caritas Internationalis in Belgium (2000-2008), advisor for political and diplomatic affairs at the Senate in Burundi (2008-2009), Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Security (2009-2015), deputy governor of the Bank of the Republic of Burundi — brb (2015-2020), director general of the Mutuelle de la Fonction Publique (2020-2022), and advisor for social protection and administrative reform at the undp (2002-2023).

Qatar

H.E. Ms Asma Naji Hussain Al-Amri graduated in English from the University of Qatar (1997). She has served as: employee of the Department of Research and Information Analysis, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1998-2002); the Department of European and American Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2002-2012); and the Department for American Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2012-2014); assistant director of American Affairs (2014-2020); chief operations officer at the Mission in the United States of America (2021-2023); and ambassador in Croatia (since 2024).

Mauritania

H.E. Mr Mohamed Tahya Teiss was born on 12 December 1963, and is married with children. He obtained a Diplôme d’Etudes Universitaires Générales in law (1986) and a Maîtrise in public law (1988) from the University of Nouakchott. He obtained a dea in public law and political sciences, “Political Studies” option, from the University of Nancy II and a doctorate in political sciences from the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. He has served as: titular professor of public law, Faculty of Legal and Economic Sciences, University of Nouakchott (1996-2011); legal advisor to the Commissariat for Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation and Inclusion, Nouakchott (1998-2008); ambassador, director of Legal and Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2007-2011); chargé d’affaires, Embassy in France, in Portugal and Monaco (2011-2012); head of mission, chargé d’affaires in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and in Ireland (2012-2018); permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization, London (2016-2018); ambassador to Niger, Chad, Benin and Togo (2018-2021); ambassador to Senegal, the Republic of Guinea, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau (2021-2023); and ambassador to France (since 2023).