Letters of Credence Ceremony - December 04, 2023

December 4, 2023

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, welcomed four new heads of mission to Canada during a ceremony at Rideau Hall.

During the ceremony, the following new heads of mission presented their credentials to the Governor General:

His Excellency Momodou Lamin Bah
High Commissioner for the Republic of The Gambia

Her Excellency Sophea Eat
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia

His Excellency Kennedy Fitzgerald Groening
High Commissioner for the Kingdom of Eswatini

His Excellency Jan Marten Willem Schalkwijk
Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname

Upon their arrival in Canada, new heads of mission must present their letters of credence to the governor general before they can carry out their duties. Letters of credence are the official documents that accredit a diplomat as an ambassador or high commissioner to another country.