Born in Bukavu, Kivu, Ambassador Mitifu received her bachelor of science degree in biochemistry education from the National University of Zaire, Kinshasa.
She received a master’s degree in French studies from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama; and a doctorate in romance languages from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Her dissertation topic was the representation of femininity in Zairian novels written in French.
She taught French literature, language, and culture and Caribbean and African literature at the University of Georgia (1994-1997) and also at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia (1997-1998). She supervised teaching assistants and coordinated the French language program in the department of romance languages at the University of Georgia (1995-1997).
Ambassador Mitifu’s area of research has included French, francophone, and lusophone literatures from Africa and the Caribbean.
She was appointed to Washington, D.C. by the late President Laurent Désiré Kabila.
She is fluent in French, English, Swahili, Lingala, and Shi.