Pascaline Bongo Ondimba
Encyclopedia
Pascaline Mferri Bongo Ondimba (born April 10, 1956) is a Gabon
ese politician. Under her father, President Omar Bongo
, she was Minister of Foreign Affairs
from 1991 to 1994 and Director of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic from 1994 to 2009. Since 2009, she has been High Personal Representative of the Head of State.
, Gabon
, she is the eldest daughter of Omar Bongo and Louise Mouyabi Moukala.
Pascaline Bongo was appointed as Personal Adviser to the President of the Republic in 1987 and entered the government as Minister of Foreign Affairs in June 1991. President Bongo had entrusted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to close relatives since 1981. Pascaline's immediate predecessor in that post was her half-brother Ali Bongo, who was several years younger than Pascaline and had been rendered ineligible for a ministerial post by a constitutional age requirement. In her first address to the United Nations
later in 1991, she praised the expulsion of Iraqi forces
from Kuwait
and expressed concern over violence in South Africa
. She welcomed reforms in South Africa, but also stressed that further steps were needed to fully eliminate the apartheid system. Noting the collapse of socialism in the Warsaw Pact
countries, she said that the world was witnessing rapid change, but she emphasized Gabon's view that the economic gulf between developed and developing countries—the global "north" and "south"—was "the real problem".
Pascaline Bongo remained Minister of Foreign Affairs until March 1994, when President Bongo appointed Jean Ping
to replace her. He instead appointed Pascaline as Director of the Presidential Cabinet at that time.
Following her father's death in June 2009, her half-brother Ali was elected President; immediately after taking office, Ali moved Pascaline from her post as Director of the Presidential Cabinet to the post of High Personal Representative of the Head of State on 17 October 2009.
, a prominent member of the government, in 1995.
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
ese politician. Under her father, President Omar Bongo
Omar Bongo
El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba , born as Albert-Bernard Bongo, was a Gabonese politician who was President of Gabon for 42 years from 1967 until his death in office in 2009....
, she was 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 1991 to 1994 and Director of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic from 1994 to 2009. Since 2009, she has been High Personal Representative of the Head of State.
Background and political career
Born in FrancevilleFranceville
Franceville or Masuku is one of the four largest cities in Gabon, with a population of around 22,000 people. It lies on the River Mpassa and at the end of the Trans-Gabon Railway and the N3 road. It grew from a village named Masuku when Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza chose it to resettle former...
, Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
, she is the eldest daughter of Omar Bongo and Louise Mouyabi Moukala.
Pascaline Bongo was appointed as Personal Adviser to the President of the Republic in 1987 and entered the government as Minister of Foreign Affairs in June 1991. President Bongo had entrusted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to close relatives since 1981. Pascaline's immediate predecessor in that post was her half-brother Ali Bongo, who was several years younger than Pascaline and had been rendered ineligible for a ministerial post by a constitutional age requirement. In her first address to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
later in 1991, she praised the expulsion of Iraqi forces
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
from Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
and expressed concern over violence in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. She welcomed reforms in South Africa, but also stressed that further steps were needed to fully eliminate the apartheid system. Noting the collapse of socialism in the Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
countries, she said that the world was witnessing rapid change, but she emphasized Gabon's view that the economic gulf between developed and developing countries—the global "north" and "south"—was "the real problem".
Pascaline Bongo remained Minister of Foreign Affairs until March 1994, when President Bongo appointed Jean Ping
Jean Ping
Jean Ping is a Gabonese diplomat and politician who is currently the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union...
to replace her. He instead appointed Pascaline as Director of the Presidential Cabinet at that time.
Following her father's death in June 2009, her half-brother Ali was elected President; immediately after taking office, Ali moved Pascaline from her post as Director of the Presidential Cabinet to the post of High Personal Representative of the Head of State on 17 October 2009.
Personal life
Pascaline Bongo had a relationship with Jean Ping, another high-ranking official, during the late 1980s and early 1990s; the two had two children. However, Ping was already married and was unwilling to divorce his wife; ultimately Bongo married Paul TounguiPaul Toungui
Paul Toungui is a Gabonese politician. He has served in the government of Gabon since 1990 and is currently the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, La Francophonie, and Regional Integration.-Political career:...
, a prominent member of the government, in 1995.