João Soares Da Gama was appointed Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau to the United Nations on August 13, 2010.

Da Gama was serving as Counsellor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities, and as Focal Point for the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP). Prior to that appointment, Da Gama held several positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities, most recently as Director. In 2005, he served as Counsellor and Focal Point for Presidential Elections. Between 2002 and 2004, he was the Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau to France. Prior to that, between 1994 and 2000, he served as Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Guinea-Bissau to the United Nations.

Da Gama has also represented his country at several international conferences; among them, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Preparatory Commission of the International Seabed Authority, the Committee of Eminent Persons for the Review of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court.

Da Gama pursued studies in languages and economics, in Brasov, Romania (1973‑1977), as well as in law, at the University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania (1977‑1981). He speaks Portuguese, French, English and Romanian.

He was born on December 26, 1955 in Bafatá, Guinea-Bissau, is married and has three children.

Contact Information

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau to the United Nations
800 2nd Ave., Suite 400F
New York, NY 10017 

Phone: (917) 770-5598
Fax: (212) 856-9820

Email:guinea-bissau@un.int