Jean-Dominique Okemba
Encyclopedia
Jean-Dominique Okemba is a Congolese
military and political figure. He has been a Special Adviser to the President of Congo-Brazzaville, Denis Sassou Nguesso
, since 1997, and he has also been the Secretary-General of the National Security Council since 2002. He is a nephew of Sassou Nguesso.
(Capitaine de vaisseau).
Sassou Nguesso regained power at the end of the June–October 1997 civil war and appointed Okemba as a Special Adviser to the President in late 1997. Okemba, who was a nephew of Sassou Nguesso, was viewed in the late 1990s as the leader of the clan of close family members surrounding Sassou Nguesso, which competed for high-level influence with other clans belonging to Sassou Nguesso's Mbochi
ethnic group.
As Special Adviser to the President, Okemba was sometimes dispatched on special diplomatic missions. He was sent to Morocco
in late September 2001 to meet with King Mohammed VI
and inquire about Morocco's position regarding the candidacy of the Congolese diplomat Henri Lopes
for the post of Secretary-General of La Francophonie
. On 21 June 2002, he met with Joseph Kabila
, the President of Congo-Kinshasa, delivering a message from Sassou Nguesso, discussing increased cooperation, and subsequently emphasizing the prospect of "good neighborly relations" between the two countries.
Okemba created a political association bearing his own name, which was active in the promotion of health initiatives, including the fight against AIDS
and sexually-transmitted diseases, with a focus on rural areas and community health
.
On 30 December 2002, President Sassou Nguesso appointed Okemba as Secretary-General of the National Security Council, a newly-created body that was tasked with overseeing and coordinating state security; Okemba also retained his existing post as Special Adviser to the President. The Council operated under Sassou Nguesso's personal authority, while Okemba led its work as Secretary-General. It plays a key role in supervising intelligence
work.
As Secretary-General of the National Security Council and a key member of the clan of family members surrounding President Sassou Nguesso, Okemba was a very influential figure during the 2000s and was nicknamed "Mr. Vice-President" (Monsieur le vice-président). Despite Okemba's influence, his activities were often not public, as Sassou Nguesso tended to assign him responsibility for "secret missions and discreet matters". He was believed to have marginalized Pierre Oba
, the powerful Minister of Security, during the mid-2000s.
By 2004, Okemba had been promoted to the rank of Counter Admiral
(contre-amiral). Okemba was awarded France
's Legion of Honour by the French Ambassador to Congo-Brazzaville, Jean-François Valette, on 10 February 2011.
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...
military and political figure. He has been a Special Adviser to the President of Congo-Brazzaville, 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...
, since 1997, and he has also been the Secretary-General of the National Security Council since 2002. He is a nephew of Sassou Nguesso.
Military and political career
Okemba served in the navy of Congo-Brazzaville; by 2002 he held the rank of Ship-of-the-Line CaptainShip-of-the-Line Captain
Ship-of-the-line captain is a rank that appears in several navies...
(Capitaine de vaisseau).
Sassou Nguesso regained power at the end of the June–October 1997 civil war and appointed Okemba as a Special Adviser to the President in late 1997. Okemba, who was a nephew of Sassou Nguesso, was viewed in the late 1990s as the leader of the clan of close family members surrounding Sassou Nguesso, which competed for high-level influence with other clans belonging to Sassou Nguesso's Mbochi
Mbochi
The Mbochi are a central African ethnic group whose population is concentrated in the northern region of the Republic of the Congo. The current Congolese president, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, as well as many senior government officials, belong to this group....
ethnic group.
As Special Adviser to the President, Okemba was sometimes dispatched on special diplomatic missions. He was sent to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
in late September 2001 to meet with King Mohammed VI
Mohammed VI of Morocco
Mohammed VI is the present King of Morocco and Amir al-Mu'minin . He ascended to the throne on 23 July 1999 upon the death of his father.-Education:...
and inquire about Morocco's position regarding the candidacy of the Congolese diplomat Henri Lopes
Henri Lopès
Henri Lopès is a Congolese writer, diplomat, and political figure. He was Prime Minister of Congo-Brazzaville from 1973 to 1975, and since 1998 he has been Congo-Brazzaville's Ambassador to France.-Political and diplomatic career:...
for the post of Secretary-General of La Francophonie
La Francophonie
Francophonie is an international organization of politics and governments with French as the mother or customary language, where a significant proportion of people are francophones , or where there is a notable affiliation with the French language or culture.Formally known as the Organisation...
. On 21 June 2002, he met with Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila Kabange is a Congolese politician who has been President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January 2001. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila...
, the President of Congo-Kinshasa, delivering a message from Sassou Nguesso, discussing increased cooperation, and subsequently emphasizing the prospect of "good neighborly relations" between the two countries.
Okemba created a political association bearing his own name, which was active in the promotion of health initiatives, including the fight against AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
and sexually-transmitted diseases, with a focus on rural areas and community health
Community health
Community health, a field of public health, is a discipline that concerns itself with the study and betterment of the health characteristics of biological communities. While the term community can be broadly defined, community health tends to focus on geographic areas rather than people with shared...
.
On 30 December 2002, President Sassou Nguesso appointed Okemba as Secretary-General of the National Security Council, a newly-created body that was tasked with overseeing and coordinating state security; Okemba also retained his existing post as Special Adviser to the President. The Council operated under Sassou Nguesso's personal authority, while Okemba led its work as Secretary-General. It plays a key role in supervising intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
work.
As Secretary-General of the National Security Council and a key member of the clan of family members surrounding President Sassou Nguesso, Okemba was a very influential figure during the 2000s and was nicknamed "Mr. Vice-President" (Monsieur le vice-président). Despite Okemba's influence, his activities were often not public, as Sassou Nguesso tended to assign him responsibility for "secret missions and discreet matters". He was believed to have marginalized Pierre Oba
Pierre Oba
Pierre Oba is a Congolese politician. He has served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville since 1997 and is currently Minister of Mines and Geology. He is also a Général de Brigade of the National Police....
, the powerful Minister of Security, during the mid-2000s.
By 2004, Okemba had been promoted to the rank of Counter Admiral
Counter Admiral
Counter admiral is a rank found in many navies of the world, but no longer used in English-speaking countries, where the equivalent rank is rear admiral...
(contre-amiral). Okemba was awarded France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's Legion of Honour by the French Ambassador to Congo-Brazzaville, Jean-François Valette, on 10 February 2011.