Florent Ntsiba
Encyclopedia
Florent Ntsiba is a Congolese
politician who has been Minister of State for Labour and Social Security in the government of Congo-Brazzaville since 2009. A high-ranking and long-time figure under President Denis Sassou Nguesso
, Ntsiba initially rose to prominence through the military in the single-party regime of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT) in the 1970s. He was Minister of Information from 1979 to 1983; although he fell out of favor with the party leadership in 1983, he returned to the government as Minister of Equipment from 1989 to 1991.
After Sassou Nguesso regained power in the 1997 civil war, Ntsiba again returned to the government as Minister of Equipment and Public Works from 1997 to 2009. As Minister of State for Labour and Social Security since September 2009, Ntsiba is also the coordinator of socio-cultural matters in the government. He holds the military rank of Général de division.
ethnic group, was born in Lekana
, located in the Plateaux Region of Congo-Brazzaville. He became an officer in the armed forces and was Director of the Cabinet of the Minister of Defense from 1975 to 1977. He was included in the ruling PCT's Military Committee of the Party (CMP) in 1977, at which time he held the rank of captain; also in 1977, he was appointed as Secretary-General of the First Vice-Presidency, in charge of the Coordination of the Activities of the Party, as well as Spokesman of the CMP. Ntsiba remained Spokesman of the CMP until 1979. He played a role in the ouster of Joachim Yhombi-Opango
by the PCT leadership in early 1979, and under Yhombi-Opango's successor, President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Ntsiba was elected to the Political Bureau of the PCT in 1979 and was assigned responsibility for press and propaganda. He was also included in the government as Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications in 1979.
At a session of the PCT Central Committee in April 1983, Ntsiba was removed from the Political Bureau and suspended from the Central Committee for ideological weakness; as a result, he resigned from his position as Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications in May 1983. He was not included in the Central Committee elected at the PCT's July 1984 congress, but he was politically rehabilitated in later in the 1980s and appointed to head SIACIC, the national cement
company.
At the PCT's Fourth Ordinary Congress on 26–31 July 1989, Ntsiba regained a seat on the Central Committee, and after the congress he was appointed to the government as Minister of Equipment, in charge of the Environment, on 13 August 1989. Civil servants at his ministry went on strike to protest his alleged favoritism towards ethnic Téke when making appointments. When the PCT lost power in 1991, Ntsiba lost his post in the government.
Ntsiba was an unsuccessful candidate in Lekana constituency in the May–June 2002 parliamentary election
; he was defeated in the second round of voting by fellow minister André Okombi Salissa
. He was nevertheless retained as Minister of Equipment and Public Works in the government appointed on 18 August 2002, but his additional responsibility for the Ministry of Construction was transferred to Claude-Alphonse Nsilou on 23 August 2002.
Sassou Nguesso was re-elected in the July 2009 presidential election
. In the post-election government appointed on 15 September 2009, Ntsiba was moved to the post of Minister of State for Labour and Social Security. The government was also reorganized into four broad sectors, with one minister assigned responsibility for coordinating each of the four sectors; Ntsiba was one of the ministers chosen as a coordinator and was assigned the socio-cultural sector. Ntsiba succeeded Gilbert Ondongo
at the Ministry of Labour on 22 September 2009, and he in turn handed over the Ministry of Equipment to Émile Ouosso later on the same day. On 28 September, Ntsiba chaired the first meeting of the ministers included in the socio-cultural sector.
Ntsiba is a member of the New Democratic Forces
(FDN), a political party that supports Sassou Nguesso. At the FDN's May 2010 congress, it established the High Council of Dignitaries, a consultative body intended to advise the FDN Executive Bureau; Ntsiba was included as one of its seven members, and it was installed on 1 June 2010.
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...
politician who has been Minister of State for Labour and Social Security in the government of Congo-Brazzaville since 2009. A high-ranking and long-time figure under President 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...
, Ntsiba initially rose to prominence through the military in the single-party regime of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT) in the 1970s. He was Minister of Information from 1979 to 1983; although he fell out of favor with the party leadership in 1983, he returned to the government as Minister of Equipment from 1989 to 1991.
After Sassou Nguesso regained power in the 1997 civil war, Ntsiba again returned to the government as Minister of Equipment and Public Works from 1997 to 2009. As Minister of State for Labour and Social Security since September 2009, Ntsiba is also the coordinator of socio-cultural matters in the government. He holds the military rank of Général de division.
Military–political career under single-party rule
Ntsiba, a member of the TékeTeke
-People:* Fatih Tekke, a Turkish footballer* Teke people or Bateke, a Central African ethnic group** Teke languages, a series of Bantu languages spoken by the Teke people* Teke tribe or Tekke, a tribe of southern Turkmenistan...
ethnic group, was born in Lekana
Lekana
Lekana is a city and seat of Lekana District in the Plateaux Region of northeastern Republic of the Congo.The city is served by Lekana Airport....
, located in the Plateaux Region of Congo-Brazzaville. He became an officer in the armed forces and was Director of the Cabinet of the Minister of Defense from 1975 to 1977. He was included in the ruling PCT's Military Committee of the Party (CMP) in 1977, at which time he held the rank of captain; also in 1977, he was appointed as Secretary-General of the First Vice-Presidency, in charge of the Coordination of the Activities of the Party, as well as Spokesman of the CMP. Ntsiba remained Spokesman of the CMP until 1979. He played a role in the ouster of Joachim Yhombi-Opango
Joachim Yhombi-Opango
Jacques Joachim Yhombi Opango is a Congolese politician. He was an army officer who became Congo-Brazzaville's first general and served as Head of State of Congo-Brazzaville from 1977 to 1979. He is currently the President of the Rally for Democracy and Development , a political party, and served...
by the PCT leadership in early 1979, and under Yhombi-Opango's successor, President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Ntsiba was elected to the Political Bureau of the PCT in 1979 and was assigned responsibility for press and propaganda. He was also included in the government as Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications in 1979.
At a session of the PCT Central Committee in April 1983, Ntsiba was removed from the Political Bureau and suspended from the Central Committee for ideological weakness; as a result, he resigned from his position as Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications in May 1983. He was not included in the Central Committee elected at the PCT's July 1984 congress, but he was politically rehabilitated in later in the 1980s and appointed to head SIACIC, the national cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
company.
At the PCT's Fourth Ordinary Congress on 26–31 July 1989, Ntsiba regained a seat on the Central Committee, and after the congress he was appointed to the government as Minister of Equipment, in charge of the Environment, on 13 August 1989. Civil servants at his ministry went on strike to protest his alleged favoritism towards ethnic Téke when making appointments. When the PCT lost power in 1991, Ntsiba lost his post in the government.
Political career since 1997
After Sassou Nguesso returned to power in the June–October 1997 civil war, he appointed Ntsiba to the government again as Minister of Equipment and Public Works on 2 November 1997. Following the resignation from the government of Martin Mbéri in 2001, Ntsiba additionally assumed responsibility for the Ministry of Construction.Ntsiba was an unsuccessful candidate in Lekana constituency in the May–June 2002 parliamentary election
Republic of the Congo parliamentary election, 2002
A parliamentary election was held in the Republic of the Congo in 2002; the first round was held on 26 May and the second round on 20 June. The Congolese Labour Party and its allies won a majority of seats in the National Assembly....
; he was defeated in the second round of voting by fellow minister André Okombi Salissa
André Okombi Salissa
André Okombi Salissa is a Congolese politician. A member of the Congolese Labour Party , he has served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville since 1997 and is currently the Minister of Tourism and the Environment; he is also the President-Coordinator of the Action Committee for the Defense of...
. He was nevertheless retained as Minister of Equipment and Public Works in the government appointed on 18 August 2002, but his additional responsibility for the Ministry of Construction was transferred to Claude-Alphonse Nsilou on 23 August 2002.
Sassou Nguesso was re-elected in the July 2009 presidential election
Republic of the Congo presidential election, 2009
A presidential election was held in the Republic of the Congo on 12 July 2009. Long-time President Denis Sassou Nguesso won another seven-year term with a large majority of the vote, but the election was marked by accusations of irregularities and fraud from the opposition; six opposition...
. In the post-election government appointed on 15 September 2009, Ntsiba was moved to the post of Minister of State for Labour and Social Security. The government was also reorganized into four broad sectors, with one minister assigned responsibility for coordinating each of the four sectors; Ntsiba was one of the ministers chosen as a coordinator and was assigned the socio-cultural sector. Ntsiba succeeded Gilbert Ondongo
Gilbert Ondongo
Gilbert Ondongo is a Congolese politician who has served as Minister of Finance in the government of Congo-Brazzaville since 2009. Previously he was Minister of Labour, Employment, and Social Security from 2005 to 2009.-Political career:...
at the Ministry of Labour on 22 September 2009, and he in turn handed over the Ministry of Equipment to Émile Ouosso later on the same day. On 28 September, Ntsiba chaired the first meeting of the ministers included in the socio-cultural sector.
Ntsiba is a member of the New Democratic Forces
New Democratic Forces
The New Democratic Forces was a political party in Congo-Brazzaville from 2007 to 2011.Seven parties, which were formerly members of the United Democratic Forces , agreed to merge to form the FDN on 27 March 2007...
(FDN), a political party that supports Sassou Nguesso. At the FDN's May 2010 congress, it established the High Council of Dignitaries, a consultative body intended to advise the FDN Executive Bureau; Ntsiba was included as one of its seven members, and it was installed on 1 June 2010.