Richard Auguste Onouviet
Encyclopedia
Richard Auguste Onouviet (born 14 June 1949) is a Gabon
ese politician. Holding a succession of ministerial portfolios, Onouviet served in the government of Gabon as Minister of Water and the Environment from 1999 to 2002, Minister of Mines, Energy, and Oil from 2002 to 2007, Minister of Planning from 2007 to 2009, and as Minister of Decentralization and Urban Policy in 2009. A member of the Gabonese Democratic Party
(PDG), he has been a Deputy in the National Assembly
since 2009.
, located in northern Gabon. He studied philosophy and political science in France
and was a financial official at Mokta, a French company, from 1976 to 1979. He then held important positions at the Franceville
Uranium Mines Company (Compagnie des mines d'uranium de Franceville, COMUF) in Gabon from 1979 to 1986, eventually becoming the Deputy Director-General of COMUF. Subsequently he was Vice-President of the Energy and Water Company of Gabon (Société d'énergie et d'eau du Gabon, SEEG) from 1987 to 1990, and he was also appointed as Special Adviser to President Omar Bongo
in 1987.
Onouviet was appointed as Director-General of the Gabonese Development Bank in 1990. In late May 1995, he announced that the bank's profits for 1994 (2.64 billion CFA francs) were 18% higher than its profits for 1993, and he expressed hope that there would be similar growth in 1995.
, he was elected to the National Assembly as a PDG candidate in Lambaréné. After the election, he remained in the government that was formed on 27 January 2002, but he was moved to the position of Minister of Mines, Energy, Oil, and Hydraulic Resources. That change of portfolio marked a major promotion for Onouviet. A technocrat, he benefited from the support of Georges Rawiri
, the influential President of the Senate
, who was also a native of Lambaréné.
At the time of the November 2005 presidential election
, Onouviet worked on President Bongo's re-election campaign as President of the Commission for Relations with Economic Operators.
In 2006, Onouviet headed a faction within the government that favored a Brazil
ian company during its dispute with a Chinese
company over control of the exploitation of the Belinga
iron reserves, a matter of tremendous economic importance for Gabon. The Chinese, who promised to build more infrastructure than the Brazilians, were backed by another faction in the government (headed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Jean Ping
) and they ultimately prevailed, receiving rights to the iron reserves on 7 September 2006.
In the December 2006 parliamentary election
, Onouviet was again elected to the National Assembly as the PDG candidate in Lambaréné. Speaking to children in Lambaréné in late 2007, when Bongo was marking the 40th anniversary of his presidency, Onouviet described Bongo as "the messiah". After nearly six years as Minister of Mines, Energy, Oil, and Hydraulic Resources, Onouviet was instead appointed as Minister of Planning and Development Programming on 28 December 2007.
At the time of the April 2008 local elections
, Onouviet was suspended from his party functions for six months for indiscipline due to his support of candidates who were not backed by the PDG. In the government named on 14 January 2009, he was moved to the position of Minister of Decentralization and Urban Policy.
Bongo died in June 2009. After Bongo's son, Ali Bongo Ondimba, won the 30 August 2009 presidential election
, he dismissed Onouviet from the government on 17 October 2009. The dismissal of Onouviet, who had remained loyal to Ali Bongo during the election period, was part of a major reworking of the state administration, in which many prominent ministers and officials were replaced. Onouviet then returned to his seat in the National Assembly, representing Lambaréné. On 16 January 2010, he donated a dump truck
to Lambaréné in order to facilitate the city's sanitation efforts. On that occasion, Onouviet expressed his hope that the law on decentralization would enable further improvements for Lambaréné and other localities across 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...
ese politician. Holding a succession of ministerial portfolios, Onouviet served in the government of Gabon as Minister of Water and the Environment from 1999 to 2002, Minister of Mines, Energy, and Oil from 2002 to 2007, Minister of Planning from 2007 to 2009, and as Minister of Decentralization and Urban Policy in 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 has been 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:...
since 2009.
Early administrative career
Onouviet was born in LambarénéLambaréné
Lambaréné is the capital of the political district Moyen-Ogooué in Gabon. The city counts 24,000 inhabitants and is located 75 kilometres south of the equator....
, located in northern Gabon. He studied philosophy and political science 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...
and was a financial official at Mokta, a French company, from 1976 to 1979. He then held important positions at the Franceville
Franceville
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...
Uranium Mines Company (Compagnie des mines d'uranium de Franceville, COMUF) in Gabon from 1979 to 1986, eventually becoming the Deputy Director-General of COMUF. Subsequently he was Vice-President of the Energy and Water Company of Gabon (Société d'énergie et d'eau du Gabon, SEEG) from 1987 to 1990, and he was also appointed as Special Adviser to 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....
in 1987.
Onouviet was appointed as Director-General of the Gabonese Development Bank in 1990. In late May 1995, he announced that the bank's profits for 1994 (2.64 billion CFA francs) were 18% higher than its profits for 1993, and he expressed hope that there would be similar growth in 1995.
Government service and political career
Onouviet remained Director-General of the Gabonese Development Bank until he was appointed to the government as Minister of Water, Forests, Fisheries, and Reforestation on 25 January 1999; later, in December 1999, he was assigned additional responsibility for the Environment and the Protection of Nature. In the December 2001 parliamentary electionGabonese legislative election, 2001
Gabon held a parliamentary election on 9 December 2001.-Results:...
, he was elected to the National Assembly as a PDG candidate in Lambaréné. After the election, he remained in the government that was formed on 27 January 2002, but he was moved to the position of Minister of Mines, Energy, Oil, and Hydraulic Resources. That change of portfolio marked a major promotion for Onouviet. A technocrat, he benefited from the support of Georges Rawiri
Georges Rawiri
Georges Rawiri was a Gabonese politician, diplomat and poet.-Biography:Rawiri was born in western Gabon. He became a prominent government official in 1967 when President Omar Bongo took office, with Bongo and Rawiri becoming close friends...
, the influential President of the 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...
, who was also a native of Lambaréné.
At the time of the November 2005 presidential election
Gabonese presidential election, 2005
Gabon held a presidential election on 27 November 2005. Incumbent President Omar Bongo Ondimba, in power since 1967 , sought another seven-year term against four other candidates. According to an announcement of results by the country's interior minister, Bongo won the election with 79.2% of the vote...
, Onouviet worked on President Bongo's re-election campaign as President of the Commission for Relations with Economic Operators.
In 2006, Onouviet headed a faction within the government that favored a Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian company during its dispute with a Chinese
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
company over control of the exploitation of the Belinga
Belinga
Belinga is a location in Gabon with as yet unexploited iron ore deposits. These ore deposits extend into neighbouring Cameroon and Congo.- Mining :The Belinga iron reserves were discovered in 1895...
iron reserves, a matter of tremendous economic importance for Gabon. The Chinese, who promised to build more infrastructure than the Brazilians, were backed by another faction in the government (headed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Jean Ping
Jean Ping
Jean Ping is a Gabonese diplomat and politician who is currently the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union...
) and they ultimately prevailed, receiving rights to the iron reserves on 7 September 2006.
In the December 2006 parliamentary election
Gabonese legislative election, 2006
A legislative election was held in Gabon on 17 December 2006 ....
, Onouviet was again elected to the National Assembly as the PDG candidate in Lambaréné. Speaking to children in Lambaréné in late 2007, when Bongo was marking the 40th anniversary of his presidency, Onouviet described Bongo as "the messiah". After nearly six years as Minister of Mines, Energy, Oil, and Hydraulic Resources, Onouviet was instead appointed as Minister of Planning and Development Programming on 28 December 2007.
At the time of the April 2008 local elections
Gabonese local elections, 2008
Local elections were held in Gabon on April 27–30, 2008, with 1,990 municipal and departmental councillors being elected.- Overview :...
, Onouviet was suspended from his party functions for six months for indiscipline due to his support of candidates who were not backed by the PDG. In the government named on 14 January 2009, he was moved to the position of Minister of Decentralization and Urban Policy.
Bongo died in June 2009. After Bongo's son, Ali Bongo Ondimba, won the 30 August 2009 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...
, he dismissed Onouviet from the government on 17 October 2009. The dismissal of Onouviet, who had remained loyal to Ali Bongo during the election period, was part of a major reworking of the state administration, in which many prominent ministers and officials were replaced. Onouviet then returned to his seat in the National Assembly, representing Lambaréné. On 16 January 2010, he donated a dump truck
Dump truck
A dump truck is a truck used for transporting loose material for construction. A typical dump truck is equipped with a hydraulically operated open-box bed hinged at the rear, the front of which can be lifted up to allow the contents to be deposited on the ground behind the truck at the site of...
to Lambaréné in order to facilitate the city's sanitation efforts. On that occasion, Onouviet expressed his hope that the law on decentralization would enable further improvements for Lambaréné and other localities across Gabon.