Benjamin Bounkoulou
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Bounkoulou is a Congo
lese politician who served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of Foreign Affairs
from 1992 to 1995 under President Pascal Lissouba
. He has been President of the Union for the Republic
(UR), a political party, since 1995. Bounkoulou was Second Vice-President of the National Transitional Council from 1998 to 2002 and First Vice-President of the Senate
from 2002 to 2011.
from 1975 to 1976. Subsequently he was Congo's Ambassador to Angola
from 1976 to 1979 and was Ambassador to Algeria
, Libya
, Mauritania
, Egypt
, and Tunisia
from 1978 to 1983. He served as Ambassador to the Organization of African Unity and Ethiopia
from 1983 to 1987.
On 19 November 1987, Bounkoulou was appointed as Congo-Brazzaville's Ambassador to the United States
; he presented his credentials on 21 December 1987. He was replaced by Roger Issombo in May 1990.
won the August 1992 presidential election
, and after taking office he appointed Bounkoulou to the government as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Hydrocarbons in September 1992. Bounkoulou left the government in 1995.
When the Union for the Republic (UR) was founded in March 1995, Bounkoulou became its President, and he has led the party since then. The UR was established by members of parliament from Bouenza Region
who left the ruling Pan-African Union for Social Democracy
(UPADS) and another party in January 1995, complaining of government favoritism towards people from Niari Region
, Lékoumou Region
, and another part of Bouenza Region.
In the short-lived government of Prime Minister Bernard Kolelas
, appointed in September 1997 during the 1997 civil war, Bounkoulou was appointed as Minister of Privatisation, in charge of the Inspection générale d'Etat. That government lasted only one month; rebels loyal to Denis Sassou Nguesso
captured Brazzaville
and Pointe-Noire
on 14–15 October 1997, thereby ousting Lissouba and Kolelas.
From 1998 to 2002, Bounkoulou was Second Vice-President of the National Transitional Council (CNT), which was set up as a transitional legislature after Sassou Nguesso took power. Standing as a UR candidate, Bounkoulou was elected as a Senator from Bouenza Region in the 2002 Senate election, at the end of the transitional period. Subsequently he was elected as First Vice-President of the Senate on August 10, 2002. Bounkoulou was additionally designated as the head of the Senate's Congo–Egypt
friendship group on 13 December 2004.
In the October 2005 Senate election, Bounkoulou was re-elected to the Senate as a UR candidate in Bouenza Region. He received the votes of 64 electors and was tied for the highest total of any of the candidates in Bouenza.
At an extraordinary general assembly of the UR, held in Nkayi
on 18 December 2006, Bounkoulou was unanimously re-elected as President of the UR. He was re-elected as First Vice-President of the Senate on August 12, 2008.
Shortly before the July 2009 presidential election
, Bounkoulou stressed the importance of having a peaceful election and urged the people to behave in a responsible and civic manner so that the election would be an example to Africa and the world. He headed the African Union
's electoral observer mission to the October 2009 Tunisian election
and expressed approval of the election, saying that voters were not pressured to vote for President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
.
Seeking another term in the Senate in the October 2011 Senate election, Bounkoulou failed to win a seat. His defeat was deemed "the only real surprise" in the results, which saw Sassou Nguesso's Congolese Labour Party (PCT) and other pro-government parties retaining an overwhelming majority in the Senate.
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
lese politician who served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of Foreign Affairs
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
from 1992 to 1995 under President Pascal Lissouba
Pascal Lissouba
Pascal Lissouba was the first democratically elected President of the Republic of the Congo from August 31, 1992 to October 15, 1997. He was overthrown by the current President Denis Sassou Nguesso in the 1997 civil war....
. He has been President of the Union for the Republic
Union for the Republic (Congo)
The Union for the Republic is a political party in the Republic of the Congo. It was founded on March 15, 1995, under the leadership of Benjamin Bounkoulou...
(UR), a political party, since 1995. Bounkoulou was Second Vice-President of the National Transitional Council from 1998 to 2002 and First Vice-President of the Senate
Senate of the Republic of the Congo
The Parliament of the Republic of Congo has two chambers. The Senate is the upper house. It has 72 members , elected for a six year term by district, local and regional councils. Prior to the 2008 Senate election, it had 66 members; it was expanded to 72 members at that time to account for the...
from 2002 to 2011.
Diplomatic career
Bounkoulou was born in Kinkengué, located in southern Congo. From 1967 to 1975, he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; at the ministry, he held the post of Director of Political Affairs. Bounkoulou was Diplomatic Adviser to President Marien NgouabiMarien Ngouabi
Marien Ngouabi was the military President of the Republic of the Congo from January 1, 1969 to March 18, 1977.-Origins:...
from 1975 to 1976. Subsequently he was Congo's Ambassador to Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
from 1976 to 1979 and was Ambassador to Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, and Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
from 1978 to 1983. He served as Ambassador to the Organization of African Unity and Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
from 1983 to 1987.
On 19 November 1987, Bounkoulou was appointed as Congo-Brazzaville's Ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; he presented his credentials on 21 December 1987. He was replaced by Roger Issombo in May 1990.
Political career
In 1990, Bounkoulou returned to Congo as Director-General of the Congolese Maritime Transport Company (Socotram) and remained in that post for two years. Pascal LissoubaPascal Lissouba
Pascal Lissouba was the first democratically elected President of the Republic of the Congo from August 31, 1992 to October 15, 1997. He was overthrown by the current President Denis Sassou Nguesso in the 1997 civil war....
won the August 1992 presidential election
Republic of the Congo presidential election, 1992
Presidential elections were held in the Republic of the Congo in August 1992, marking the end of the transitional period that began with the February–June 1991 National Conference...
, and after taking office he appointed Bounkoulou to the government as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Hydrocarbons in September 1992. Bounkoulou left the government in 1995.
When the Union for the Republic (UR) was founded in March 1995, Bounkoulou became its President, and he has led the party since then. The UR was established by members of parliament from Bouenza Region
Bouenza Region
Bouenza is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the southern part of the country. It borders the departments of Lékoumou, Niari, and Pool, and internationally, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The regional capital is Madingou...
who left the ruling Pan-African Union for Social Democracy
Pan-African Union for Social Democracy
The Pan-African Union for Social Democracy is a political party in the Republic of the Congo, led by former president Pascal Lissouba....
(UPADS) and another party in January 1995, complaining of government favoritism towards people from Niari Region
Niari Region
Niari is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the western part of the country. It borders the departments of Bouenza, Kouilou, and Lékoumou, and internationally, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Cabinda portion of Angola. The regional capital is Dolisie.Niari is divided...
, Lékoumou Region
Lékoumou Region
Lékoumou is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the southern part of the country. It borders the departments of Bouenza, Niari, Plateaux, and Pool, and the nation of Gabon. The regional capital is Sibiti...
, and another part of Bouenza Region.
In the short-lived government of Prime Minister Bernard Kolelas
Bernard Kolélas
Bernard Bakana Kolélas was a Congolese politician and President of the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development...
, appointed in September 1997 during the 1997 civil war, Bounkoulou was appointed as Minister of Privatisation, in charge of the Inspection générale d'Etat. That government lasted only one month; rebels loyal to Denis Sassou Nguesso
Denis Sassou Nguesso
Denis Sassou Nguesso is a Congolese politician who has been the President of Congo-Brazzaville since 1997; he was previously President from 1979 to 1992. During his first period as President, he headed the single-party regime of the Congolese Labour Party for 12 years...
captured Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
and Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire is the second largest city in the Republic of the Congo, following the capital of Brazzaville, and an autonomous department since 2004. Before this date it was the capital of the Kouilou region . It is situated on a headland between Pointe-Noire Bay and the Atlantic Ocean...
on 14–15 October 1997, thereby ousting Lissouba and Kolelas.
From 1998 to 2002, Bounkoulou was Second Vice-President of the National Transitional Council (CNT), which was set up as a transitional legislature after Sassou Nguesso took power. Standing as a UR candidate, Bounkoulou was elected as a Senator from Bouenza Region in the 2002 Senate election, at the end of the transitional period. Subsequently he was elected as First Vice-President of the Senate on August 10, 2002. Bounkoulou was additionally designated as the head of the Senate's Congo–Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
friendship group on 13 December 2004.
In the October 2005 Senate election, Bounkoulou was re-elected to the Senate as a UR candidate in Bouenza Region. He received the votes of 64 electors and was tied for the highest total of any of the candidates in Bouenza.
At an extraordinary general assembly of the UR, held in Nkayi
Nkayi
Nkayi is a town and a commune in the Bouenza Department of the Republic of the Congo. It is the country's fourth largest city with a population of 56,700 .Nkayi is a major sugar production centre in the country.- Transport :...
on 18 December 2006, Bounkoulou was unanimously re-elected as President of the UR. He was re-elected as First Vice-President of the Senate on August 12, 2008.
Shortly before the July 2009 presidential election
Republic of the Congo presidential election, 2009
A presidential election was held in the Republic of the Congo on 12 July 2009. Long-time President Denis Sassou Nguesso won another seven-year term with a large majority of the vote, but the election was marked by accusations of irregularities and fraud from the opposition; six opposition...
, Bounkoulou stressed the importance of having a peaceful election and urged the people to behave in a responsible and civic manner so that the election would be an example to Africa and the world. He headed the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
's electoral observer mission to the October 2009 Tunisian election
Tunisian general election, 2009
Presidential and parliamentary elections were held in Tunisia on 25 October 2009. Results released on 26 October 2009 indicated a substantial victory for incumbent President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who won the reelection for a fifth five-year term, and the governing Constitutional Democratic Rally...
and expressed approval of the election, saying that voters were not pressured to vote for President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was...
.
Seeking another term in the Senate in the October 2011 Senate election, Bounkoulou failed to win a seat. His defeat was deemed "the only real surprise" in the results, which saw Sassou Nguesso's Congolese Labour Party (PCT) and other pro-government parties retaining an overwhelming majority in the Senate.