Jean-Francis Regis Zinsou was appointed Ambassador to the United Nations on January 7, 2010.

Until his new appointment, Zinsou was Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at his country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York from 23 October 2008 to 28 October 2009, during which time he also served as Minister Counsellor in charge of Political and Legal Affairs, from May 2003.

Zinsou served as Assistant to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation from 2002 to 2003, and previously held the same post from 1988 to 1990. He was Deputy Director of the Ministry’s Europe Department between 1997 and 2002. From 1990 to 1997, Zinsou was First Counsellor at Benin’s Embassy in Germany, covering also Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria and the United Nations Office at Vienna. He was Head of the Foreign Ministry’s Division responsible for Germany and the Nordic countries from 1987 to 1988, and the Division in charge of Universal Political Organizations and International Non-governmental Organizations between 1983 and 1985.

Zinsou holds a master’s degree in international relations, as well as diplomas from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and the University of Vienna.

He was born in Quidah, Benin in 1955, is married and has four children.

Contact Information

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Benin to the United Nations
125 East 38th St.
New York, NY10016

Phone: (212) 684-1339
Fax: (212) 684-2058 (General number), (212) 684-1977

Email: beninewyork@gmail.com
Website: www.un.int/wcm/content/site/benin/