Gabriel Bokilo
Encyclopedia
Gabriel Bokilo was a Congolese
politician and the President of the Union for National Redress (URN).
and was subsequently the National Director of the Bank of Central African States
(BEAC) in Congo-Brazzaville from 1973 to 1993; he was also Alternate Governor at the World Bank
from 1973 to 1974 and Alternate Governor at the International Monetary Fund
from 1975 to 1993.
, he was elected to the National Assembly
as the URN candidate in the Mossaka constituency of Cuvette Region
. He was also the URN candidate for the August 1992 presidential election
, but he attracted little support, receiving 0.29% of the vote and placing 13th. Bokilo, who was a member of the opposition coalition, then served as Minister of Trade, Consumption, and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the power-sharing government of Prime Minister Claude Antoine Dacosta from 1992 to 1993. He left his post as BEAC National Director following his appointment to the government.
Later, following the 1997 civil war, Bokilo was a member of the National Transitional Council (CNT), which acted as the provisional parliament from 1998 to 2002, and during that time he was President of the CNT's Economic Commission. He was a candidate for the position of Director-General of Air Afrique
in April 1999.
In the 2002 parliamentary election
, he was again elected to the National Assembly as the URN candidate in Mossaka 1 constituency; he won the seat in the first round with 53.45% of the vote. After the election, he was chosen as President of the National Assembly's Economy and Finance Commission on 24 August 2002.
The URN initially signed an agreement to merge into the New Democratic Forces
(FDN) on 27 March 2007. At the new party's constitutive congress, which began on 19 April 2007, Bokilo was not chosen as President of the FDN; he then announced that he was withdrawing the URN from the FDN on 20 April, saying that "fundamental differences have emerged" and he had "decided on behalf of the party to denounce the agreement". In the 2007 parliamentary election
, Bokilo stood again as the URN candidate in Mossaka 1 constituency. In the first round, he placed second behind Léon-Raphaël Mokoko, an independent candidate, receiving 21.21% of the vote against 46.01% for Mokoko. He was then defeated by Mokoko in the second round.
Beginning in 2007, Bokilo's health declined and he frequently visited Paris
for medical treatment. He was hospitalized in Paris on 18 March 2010 and died of colon cancer on 26 March.
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...
politician and the President of the Union for National Redress (URN).
Administrative career
Bokilo studied in France and earned a doctorate. He became Prefect of Nkéni in 1963 and then Secretary-General of the Brazzaville city government in 1964; later, he became Director of the Cabinet of the Minister of Justice, Labour, and the Civil Service in 1967. He then briefly headed the Congolese branch of Société GénéraleSociété Générale
Société Générale S.A. is a large European Bank and a major Financial Services company that has a substantial global presence. Its registered office is on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, while its head office is in the Tours Société Générale in the business district of La...
and was subsequently the National Director of the Bank of Central African States
Bank of Central African States
The Bank of Central African States is a central bank that serves six central African countries which form the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa:*Cameroon*Central African Republic*Chad*Equatorial Guinea*Gabon*Republic of the Congo...
(BEAC) in Congo-Brazzaville from 1973 to 1993; he was also Alternate Governor at the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
from 1973 to 1974 and Alternate Governor at the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
from 1975 to 1993.
Political career
Following the introduction of multiparty politics, Bokilo became President of the URN, a political party. In the June–July 1992 parliamentary electionRepublic of the Congo parliamentary election, 1992
Parliamentary elections were held in the Republic of the Congo in 1992, along with a presidential election, marking the end of the transition to multiparty politics. The election was held in two rounds, the first on 24 June 1992 and the second on 19 July 1992...
, he was elected to the National Assembly
National Assembly of the Republic of the Congo
The Parliament of the Republic of Congo has two chambers. The lower house is the National Assembly . It has 153 members, for a five year term in single-seat constituencies.-See also:...
as the URN candidate in the Mossaka constituency of Cuvette Region
Cuvette Region
Cuvette is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the central part of the country. It borders the departments of Cuvette-Ouest, Likouala, Plateaux, and Sangha, and internationally, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The capital is Owando...
. He was also the URN candidate for 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...
, but he attracted little support, receiving 0.29% of the vote and placing 13th. Bokilo, who was a member of the opposition coalition, then served as Minister of Trade, Consumption, and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the power-sharing government of Prime Minister Claude Antoine Dacosta from 1992 to 1993. He left his post as BEAC National Director following his appointment to the government.
Later, following the 1997 civil war, Bokilo was a member of the National Transitional Council (CNT), which acted as the provisional parliament from 1998 to 2002, and during that time he was President of the CNT's Economic Commission. He was a candidate for the position of Director-General of Air Afrique
Air Afrique
Air Afrique was a Pan-African airline, that was mainly owned by many West African countries for most of its history. It was established as the official transnational carrier for francophone West and Central Africa, because many of these countries did not have the capability to create and maintain a...
in April 1999.
In the 2002 parliamentary election
Republic of the Congo parliamentary election, 2002
A parliamentary election was held in the Republic of the Congo in 2002; the first round was held on 26 May and the second round on 20 June. The Congolese Labour Party and its allies won a majority of seats in the National Assembly....
, he was again elected to the National Assembly as the URN candidate in Mossaka 1 constituency; he won the seat in the first round with 53.45% of the vote. After the election, he was chosen as President of the National Assembly's Economy and Finance Commission on 24 August 2002.
The URN initially signed an agreement to merge into the New Democratic Forces
New Democratic Forces
The New Democratic Forces was a political party in Congo-Brazzaville from 2007 to 2011.Seven parties, which were formerly members of the United Democratic Forces , agreed to merge to form the FDN on 27 March 2007...
(FDN) on 27 March 2007. At the new party's constitutive congress, which began on 19 April 2007, Bokilo was not chosen as President of the FDN; he then announced that he was withdrawing the URN from the FDN on 20 April, saying that "fundamental differences have emerged" and he had "decided on behalf of the party to denounce the agreement". In the 2007 parliamentary election
Republic of the Congo parliamentary election, 2007
A parliamentary election was held in the Republic of the Congo on 24 June 2007, with a second round initially planned for 22 July 2007, but then postponed to 5 August 2007. According to the National Commission of the Organization of the Elections , 1,807 candidates stood in the first round for 137...
, Bokilo stood again as the URN candidate in Mossaka 1 constituency. In the first round, he placed second behind Léon-Raphaël Mokoko, an independent candidate, receiving 21.21% of the vote against 46.01% for Mokoko. He was then defeated by Mokoko in the second round.
Beginning in 2007, Bokilo's health declined and he frequently visited Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for medical treatment. He was hospitalized in Paris on 18 March 2010 and died of colon cancer on 26 March.
External links
- "Interview de M. Gabriel Bokilo : " Les députés souhaitent que le gouvernement fasse tout pour que le développement humain soit en rapport avec les ressources du pays "", Planetafrique.com (Congopage.com), 22 January 2005 .