Formerly, Executive Secretary, Global Coalition for Africa. 1969-84, with Government of Mauritania, several positions including: Foreign Minister; Ambassador to US and European Union. 1984, joined UN as Special Coordinator, Africa and least developed countries: 1993-95, Special Representative of UN Secretary General in Burundi; 2002-07, Special Representative of Secretary General in West Africa. Formerly, Chairman, Cameroon-Nigeria mixed Commission, UN. Member of the International Advisory Board, Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life, Brandeis University. Author of books including: La Diplomatie Pyromane (1996); Burundi on the Brink (2000).