Prosper Vokouma
Encyclopedia
Prosper Vokouma is a Burkinabé
diplomat and politician, currently serving as Burkina Faso
's Ambassador to Switzerland
. Vokouma previously served in the government of Burkina Faso as Minister of Foreign Relations
from 1989 to 1991.
Vokouma entered the civil service in April 1982, when he was appointed as a department head at the Directorate of Bilateral Cooperation, part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Subsequently he was appointed as Director of Political Affairs in 1984 and as High Commissioner of Naouri Province in 1987.
Following the assassination of President Thomas Sankara
in October 1987, Vokouma was appointed as Secretary-General of the Government and the Council of Ministers by President Blaise Compaore
on 31 October 1987. After two years in that position, he was instead appointed as Minister of Foreign Relations on 21 September 1989. He was dismissed from the government on 26 July 1991, when Issa Dominique Konaté was appointed to replace him as Foreign Minister. Later, he was Political Adviser to the President of the National Assembly
in 1995.
Vokouma was Secretary-General of the National Assembly from 2000 to 2008. He left the latter position when he was assigned to a diplomatic posting in Switzerland
: on 12 March 2008, he was accredited as Burkina Faso's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva
and the World Trade Organization
, and he additionally presented his credentials as Ambassador to Switzerland to the President of the Swiss Confederation, Pascal Couchepin
, on 1 July 2008.
Burkinabe
Burkinabé may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to Burkina Faso, a nation in West Africa* A person from Burkina Faso, or of Burkinabé descent. For information about the Burkinabé people, see:** Demographics of Burkina Faso** Culture of Burkina Faso...
diplomat and politician, currently serving as Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
's Ambassador to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Vokouma previously served in the government of Burkina Faso as Minister of Foreign Relations
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 1989 to 1991.
Vokouma entered the civil service in April 1982, when he was appointed as a department head at the Directorate of Bilateral Cooperation, part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Subsequently he was appointed as Director of Political Affairs in 1984 and as High Commissioner of Naouri Province in 1987.
Following the assassination of President Thomas Sankara
Thomas Sankara
Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara was a Burkinabé military captain, Marxist revolutionary, Pan-Africanist theorist, and President of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987...
in October 1987, Vokouma was appointed as Secretary-General of the Government and the Council of Ministers by President Blaise Compaore
Blaise Compaoré
Blaise Compaoré has been the President of Burkina Faso since 1987 following a coup d'état that ousted then-President Thomas Sankara. In 2011, a mutiny by soldiers over unpaid housing allowances forced him to flee the capital for his hometown...
on 31 October 1987. After two years in that position, he was instead appointed as Minister of Foreign Relations on 21 September 1989. He was dismissed from the government on 26 July 1991, when Issa Dominique Konaté was appointed to replace him as Foreign Minister. Later, he was Political Adviser to the President of the National Assembly
National Assembly of Burkina Faso
The unicameral National Assembly of Burkina Faso is the country's legislative body. In 1995, it became the lower house of a bicameral Parliament, but the upper house was abolished in 2002.-Past composition:...
in 1995.
Vokouma was Secretary-General of the National Assembly from 2000 to 2008. He left the latter position when he was assigned to a diplomatic posting in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
: on 12 March 2008, he was accredited as Burkina Faso's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva
United Nations Office at Geneva
The United Nations Office at Geneva is the second-largest of the four major office sites of the United Nations...
and the World Trade Organization
World Trade Organization
The World Trade Organization is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , which commenced in 1948...
, and he additionally presented his credentials as Ambassador to Switzerland to the President of the Swiss Confederation, Pascal Couchepin
Pascal Couchepin
Pascal Couchepin is a Swiss politician, former member of the Swiss Federal Council and President of the Confederation in 2003 and 2008...
, on 1 July 2008.