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The Embassy of Burkina Faso in Geneva |
Contact
Address
Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
Building A, 5th Floor
Avenue de France 23
1202 Geneva
Phone Number
+41 22 734 63 30
Fax Number
+41 22 734 63 31
Website
http://suisse.diplomatie.gov.bf
Email
secretariat@missionburkinafaso-ch.org
info@ambaburkinafaso-ch.org
amba.geneve@diplomatie.gov.bf
The Ambassador
H.E. Ms. Sabine Bakyono Kanzie
H.E. Ms. Sabine Bakyono Kanzie is the Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva. She has also served as Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Switzerland since April 2024. Prior to her current appointment, she held several senior positions within Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkina Faso Nationals Abroad, including Director General for Legal and Consular Affairs (2022–2024) and Director General for Bilateral Cooperation (2021–2022).
A career diplomat, Ms. Bakyono Kanzie has extensive experience in multilateral and bilateral diplomacy. She served as Deputy Permanent Delegate of Burkina Faso to UNESCO in Paris from 2015 to 2020, and previously held the position of Director for Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2015. Earlier in her diplomatic career, she served as Second Counsellor at the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso in Geneva from 2007 to 2012, giving her previous experience within the Geneva multilateral system. She joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after completing an integration training programme from 2002 to 2003.
Ms. Bakyono Kanzie holds a Master’s degree in Law and a degree in Law from the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the University of Ouagadougou (1992–1993). She also obtained two diplomas in General University Studies (1989–1990 and 1991–1992) and has completed various professional training courses and internships.
History
Burkina Faso became a member of the United Nations on 20 September 1960, shortly after gaining independence. Since joining the UN, Burkina Faso has actively participated in multilateral diplomacy, with a focus on peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, humanitarian affairs, and regional cooperation in Africa. As a member of the African Group at the United Nations, Burkina Faso has contributed to discussions on development challenges, conflict prevention, poverty reduction, and the priorities of developing countries.
The Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva represents Burkina Faso in Geneva-based UN institutions and international organizations. The Mission engages on issues including human rights, humanitarian affairs, health, labour, trade, migration, development, and international cooperation. Geneva is particularly important for Burkina Faso’s multilateral engagement due to the presence of organizations such as the UN Human Rights Council, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and other UN agencies and international institutions.
