In the English language, the meaning of doyen (and the less common doyenne) has extended from the French definition to also refer to any senior member of a group,[1] particularly one whose knowledge or abilities exceed those of other members.
Doyen is the head of the diplomatic corps, the senior diplomatic representative in diplomatic class and by the time of accreditation in a given country.
In many Catholic countries, the doyenne of the diplomatic corps is the Apostolic Nuncio, in a number of former colonies in Africa - the ambassador of the former metropolis.
Doyen can only be a diplomatic representative of the highest class - an ambassador or a papal nuncio (in some Catholic countries - only a nuncio, regardless of the time of accreditation, in Togo - only the ambassador of the FRG, and in Burkina Faso - only one of the ambassadors of African countries).[2] The foreman's activities, for example, include instructing colleagues about local diplomatic customs. The moment of seniority of the heads of representative offices of the corresponding class in the diplomatic corps is determined by the date and hour of entry into the performance of their functions (in the practice of modern states, this moment is considered the time of presenting the credentials).[3]
