Paul Biyoghé Mba
Encyclopedia
Paul Biyoghé Mba is a Gabon
ese politician who has been Prime Minister of Gabon since July 2009. A member of the Gabonese Democratic Party
(PDG), he served for years as a minister in the government prior to his appointment as Prime Minister.
of Gabon. After studying business administration at the University of Rennes
in France
, he was Deputy Director of the Gabonese Development Bank, then Director of Credits at the Bank, from 1977 to 1980. Afterwards he was Adviser to the President of the Republic for Commercial, Industrial, and Investment Affairs from 1980 to 1983 and Political Adviser to the President of the Republic from 1983 to 1984. He was subsequently appointed as Deputy Director of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic, in charge of Economic, Financial, and Administrative Affairs, in 1984. After President Omar Bongo
visited the United States
in August 1987 and met with representatives of various American companies, he selected Biyoghé Mba to head a program that would work with American companies to facilitate investment in Gabon. Biyoghé Mba continued to serve as Deputy Director of the Presidential Cabinet until he entered the government as Minister of Trade, Consumption, and the Transfer of Technology in 1989.
After winning a seat in the 1990 parliamentary election
, Biyoghé Mba left the government and served as a Deputy in the National Assembly
from 1990 to 1992. He was then appointed as Minister of State Control, Parastatal Reform and Privatization in 1992 and was treasurer of President Omar Bongo
's 1993 re-election campaign
. He remained Minister of State Control, Parastatal Reform and Privatization until he resigned from the government on 27 February 1994, accusing the government of "authoritarian drift" in the wake of riots in Libreville
and Port-Gentil
. He also left the PDG, founding the Common Development Movement (MCD), and he returned to his seat in the National Assembly, serving there again from 1994 to 1996.
Speaking on Radio Soleil on 18 December 1996, Mba alleged that falsifications had occurred at polling stations for the second seat from Komo-Mondah Department in the December 1996 parliamentary election. In 1997 he was elected to the newly established Senate
, and he was Quaestor
of the Senate from 1997 to 1999. He returned to the government in January 1999, when he was appointed as Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Small and Medium-Sized Industries, and the Craft Industry. The MCD merged itself into the PDG in November 2002.
Mba was moved to the post of Minister of Trade and Industrial Development, in charge of NEPAD, in 2003. He remained in that position until 7 October 2008, when he was instead appointed as Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Rural Development.
on 8 June 2009, the PDG leadership selected his son, Defense Minister Ali-Ben Bongo
, as its candidate for early presidential election
scheduled for 30 August 2009. Jean Eyeghe Ndong
, who had unsuccessfully sought the nomination, then resigned as Prime Minister on 17 July 2009 and announced he would stand as an independent candidate. Later on the same day, Interim President Rose Francine Rogombé
appointed Biyoghé Mba to succeed Eyeghe Ndong as Prime Minister. He was expected to take "the necessary time to hold consultations before forming his government".
The composition of Biyoghé Mba's government was announced on the evening of 22 July. It was composed of 44 members, slightly smaller than the previous government under Eyeghe Ndong. Six ministers were dismissed, including two party leaders (Paul M'ba Abessole
and Pierre-André Kombila
) and three presidential candidates (M'ba Abessole, Casimir Oyé Mba, and André Mba Obame
). Oyé Mba and Mba Obame were both PDG members who had chosen to run as independents after Ali-Ben Bongo was selected as the PDG candidate, while Kombila had chosen to support the opposition candidate Pierre Mamboundou
.
Bongo won the election with a plurality of the vote according to official results, although the opposition alleged fraud; following a recount by the Constitutional Court, he was sworn in as President on 16 October 2009. Later in the day, he announced the reappointment of Biyoghé Mba as Prime Minister; he made the announcement personally "to underline the importance of this moment". According to Bongo, Biyoghé Mba had the necessary experience and managerial competence "to lead us through the next stage", and he said work would start "immediately". The composition of his new government was announced on 17 October; it was reduced to only 30 ministers, thereby fulfilling Bongo's campaign promise to reduce the size of the government and thereby reduce expenses. The government was also mostly composed of new faces, including many technocrats, although a few key ministers, such as Paul Toungui
(Foreign Minister), Jean-François Ndongou (Interior Minister), and Laure Olga Gondjout
(Communications Minister), retained their posts.
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 who has been Prime Minister of Gabon since July 2009. A member of the Gabonese Democratic Party
Gabonese Democratic Party
The Gabonese Democratic Party , is the ruling and dominant political party of Gabon. Its motto is Dialogue, Tolerance, Peace.It has held power since independence, first under Léon M'ba , then under Omar Bongo...
(PDG), he served for years as a minister in the government prior to his appointment as Prime Minister.
Background and political career
Biyoghé Mba was born in Donguila, located in the Komo-Mondah DepartmentKomo-Mondah Department
Komo-Mondah is a department of Estuaire Province in western Gabon. The capital lies at Ntoum.- Ecology:The Department contains the protected Mondah Forest....
of Gabon. After studying business administration at the University of Rennes
University of Rennes
The University of Rennes was a French university located in the city of Rennes. It was established by the union of the 3 faculties of the city in 1885. In 1969, it was divided in two new universities:* the University of Rennes 1...
in 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...
, he was Deputy Director of the Gabonese Development Bank, then Director of Credits at the Bank, from 1977 to 1980. Afterwards he was Adviser to the President of the Republic for Commercial, Industrial, and Investment Affairs from 1980 to 1983 and Political Adviser to the President of the Republic from 1983 to 1984. He was subsequently appointed as Deputy Director of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic, in charge of Economic, Financial, and Administrative Affairs, in 1984. After 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....
visited the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in August 1987 and met with representatives of various American companies, he selected Biyoghé Mba to head a program that would work with American companies to facilitate investment in Gabon. Biyoghé Mba continued to serve as Deputy Director of the Presidential Cabinet until he entered the government as Minister of Trade, Consumption, and the Transfer of Technology in 1989.
After winning a seat in the 1990 parliamentary election
Gabonese legislative election, 1990
Parliamentary elections were held in Gabon in 1990, the first multy-party elections in the country since 1967. The first round of voting was held on 16 September, with a second round due the following week. However, results from 32 of the 120 constituencies were annulled after public protests...
, Biyoghé Mba left the government and served as a Deputy in the National Assembly
National Assembly of Gabon
The National Assembly of Gabon is the lower house of the Parliament of Gabon. It has 120 members, 111 members elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies and 9 members appointed by the President.-Latest results:...
from 1990 to 1992. He was then appointed as Minister of State Control, Parastatal Reform and Privatization in 1992 and was treasurer of 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....
's 1993 re-election campaign
Gabonese presidential election, 1993
Gabon held a presidential election on 5 December 1993. Incumbent President Omar Bongo, in power since 1967, sought a five-year term against 12 other candidates. It was Gabon's first multiparty election, and according to official results Bongo won in the first round with 51.2% of the vote...
. He remained Minister of State Control, Parastatal Reform and Privatization until he resigned from the government on 27 February 1994, accusing the government of "authoritarian drift" in the wake of riots in Libreville
Libreville
Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon, in west central Africa. The city is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea, and a trade center for a timber region. As of 2005, it has a population of 578,156.- History :...
and Port-Gentil
Port-Gentil
Port-Gentil or Mandji is the second-largest city of Gabon and a leading seaport. It is the center of Gabon's petroleum and timber industries. Although it lies inshore, the nearby mainland is a remote forest area and it is not connected by road to the rest of the nation...
. He also left the PDG, founding the Common Development Movement (MCD), and he returned to his seat in the National Assembly, serving there again from 1994 to 1996.
Speaking on Radio Soleil on 18 December 1996, Mba alleged that falsifications had occurred at polling stations for the second seat from Komo-Mondah Department in the December 1996 parliamentary election. In 1997 he was elected to the newly established Senate
Senate of Gabon
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of Gabon. It has 102 members, elected for a six year term in single-seat constituencies by local and départemental councillors...
, and he was Quaestor
Quaestor
A Quaestor was a type of public official in the "Cursus honorum" system who supervised financial affairs. In the Roman Republic a quaestor was an elected official whereas, with the autocratic government of the Roman Empire, quaestors were simply appointed....
of the Senate from 1997 to 1999. He returned to the government in January 1999, when he was appointed as Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Small and Medium-Sized Industries, and the Craft Industry. The MCD merged itself into the PDG in November 2002.
Mba was moved to the post of Minister of Trade and Industrial Development, in charge of NEPAD, in 2003. He remained in that position until 7 October 2008, when he was instead appointed as Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Rural Development.
Prime Minister
Following the death of President Omar BongoOmar 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....
on 8 June 2009, the PDG leadership selected his son, Defense Minister Ali-Ben Bongo
Ali-Ben Bongo
Ali Bongo Ondimba is a Gabonese politician who has been President of Gabon since October 2009.Bongo is the son of Omar Bongo, who was President of Gabon from 1967 until his death in 2009...
, as its candidate for early presidential election
Gabonese presidential election, 2009
A presidential election was held in Gabon on 30 August 2009 after the incumbent President Omar Bongo Ondimba died on 8 June 2009. While the constitution stated that Interim President Rose Francine Rogombé should organise elections within 30 to 45 days, the Constitutional Court accepted the...
scheduled for 30 August 2009. Jean Eyeghe Ndong
Jean Eyeghe Ndong
Jean Eyeghé Ndong is a Gabonese politician. He was the Prime Minister of Gabon from January 20, 2006 to July 17, 2009. He was also the First Vice-President of the Gabonese Democratic Party until 2009....
, who had unsuccessfully sought the nomination, then resigned as Prime Minister on 17 July 2009 and announced he would stand as an independent candidate. Later on the same day, Interim President Rose Francine Rogombé
Rose Francine Rogombé
Rose Francine Rogombé is a Gabonese politician who was Acting President of Gabon from June 2009 to October 2009, following the death of long-time President Omar Bongo. She constitutionally succeeded Bongo due to her role as President of the Senate, a post to which she was elected in February 2009...
appointed Biyoghé Mba to succeed Eyeghe Ndong as Prime Minister. He was expected to take "the necessary time to hold consultations before forming his government".
The composition of Biyoghé Mba's government was announced on the evening of 22 July. It was composed of 44 members, slightly smaller than the previous government under Eyeghe Ndong. Six ministers were dismissed, including two party leaders (Paul M'ba Abessole
Paul M'ba Abessole
Fr. Paul Mba Abessole is a Gabonese politician who heads the National Woodcutters' Rally – Rally for Gabon and was a leading opponent of President Omar Bongo during the 1990s...
and Pierre-André Kombila
Pierre-André Kombila
Pierre-André Kombila Koumba is a Gabonese politician, professor, and medical doctor. He was the First Secretary of the National Rally of Woodcutters , Gabon's main opposition party, from 1990 to 1998; he then led a split from the RNB, establishing the more radical National Rally of Woodcutters -...
) and three presidential candidates (M'ba Abessole, Casimir Oyé Mba, and André Mba Obame
André Mba Obame
André Mba Obame is a Gabonese politician. After serving as an adviser to President Omar Bongo in the 1980s, he was a minister in the government of Gabon from 1990 to 1991 and again from 1997 to 2009; during that time, he was identified with the reformist wing of the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party...
). Oyé Mba and Mba Obame were both PDG members who had chosen to run as independents after Ali-Ben Bongo was selected as the PDG candidate, while Kombila had chosen to support the opposition candidate Pierre Mamboundou
Pierre Mamboundou
Pierre Mamboundou was a Gabonese politician. He was President of the Union of the Gabonese People , an opposition party in Gabon, from 1989 to 2011.-ACCT career and 1989 events:Mamboundou was born in Mouila...
.
Bongo won the election with a plurality of the vote according to official results, although the opposition alleged fraud; following a recount by the Constitutional Court, he was sworn in as President on 16 October 2009. Later in the day, he announced the reappointment of Biyoghé Mba as Prime Minister; he made the announcement personally "to underline the importance of this moment". According to Bongo, Biyoghé Mba had the necessary experience and managerial competence "to lead us through the next stage", and he said work would start "immediately". The composition of his new government was announced on 17 October; it was reduced to only 30 ministers, thereby fulfilling Bongo's campaign promise to reduce the size of the government and thereby reduce expenses. The government was also mostly composed of new faces, including many technocrats, although a few key ministers, such as Paul Toungui
Paul 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:...
(Foreign Minister), Jean-François Ndongou (Interior Minister), and Laure Olga Gondjout
Laure Olga Gondjout
Laure Olga Gondjout is a Gabonese politician. She has served in the government since 2006 and is currently the Minister of Communication, Posts, Telecommunications, and New Information Technologies....
(Communications Minister), retained their posts.