Isidore Mvouba
Encyclopedia
Isidore Mvouba is a Congolese
politician who was Prime Minister of Congo-Brazzaville from January 2005 to September 2009. He is a member of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT, or Parti Congolais du Travail) and has held key positions under President Denis Sassou-Nguesso since 1997.
Mvouba was Director of the Cabinet of the Head of State from October 1997 to January 1999, and since January 1999 he has been a minister
in the government. When his post of Prime Minister was eliminated in September 2009, he was instead appointed as Minister of State and Coordinator of the Basic Infrastructure Cluster, in charge of Transport, Civil Aviation, and the Merchant Marine.
, in the Pool Region
, and became a railways engineer, working at the Congo-Ocean Railway
(Chemin de fer Congo-Océan) beginning in 1976. He directed PCT candidate Sassou-Nguesso's presidential campaign in 1992; after Pascal Lissouba
won the election and took office as President, Mvouba declined an invitation from Lissouba to become Minister of Trade. Subsequently, on 25 December 1992, he was appointed as Minister of Youth and Sports in the power-sharing government of Prime Minister Claude Antoine Dacosta, which was to serve until a new parliamentary election
was held in 1993.
Mvouba was spokesman of the pro-Sassou-Nguesso United Democratic Forces
during the June–October 1997 civil war. The civil war resulted in Sassou Nguesso's return to power in October 1997, and Mvouba was appointed as Director of the Cabinet of the Head of State (with the rank of Minister) at the end of the same month. He held that post until being appointed as Minister of Transport, Civil Aviation, and the Merchant Marine on January 12, 1999.
It was announced on February 14, 2002 that Mvouba had been appointed as Sassou Nguesso's campaign director for the March 2002 presidential election
. Sassou Nguesso won this election with no meaningful competition. Subsequently, in the government named on August 18, 2002, Mvouba was promoted to the position of Minister of State for Transport and Privatization in charge of the Coordination of Government Action. He became Prime Minister in charge of the Coordination of Government Action and Privatization (although not head of government
) in the government named on January 7, 2005. He was appointed as Prime Minister even though the constitution does not provide for that position.
He has been a member of the Political Bureau of the PCT and the first secretary of its youth organization, the Union of the Congolese Socialist Youth
(UJSC, Union de la jeunesse socialiste congolaise).
Mvouba was elected to the National Assembly
as a PCT candidate from Kindamba constituency in the 2007 parliamentary election
, receiving 75.5% of the vote. Following the death of Senate President and PCT Secretary-General Ambroise Noumazalaye
on November 17, 2007, Mvouba became Interim Secretary-General of the PCT.
At the time of the June 2008 local elections, Mvouba is President of the National Coordination of the Rally of the Presidential Majority (RMP), the coalition supporting Sassou-Nguesso. After Sassou-Nguesso was re-elected in the July 2009 presidential election
, he appointed a new government on September 15, 2009, in which Mvouba's post of Prime Minister was eliminated; Mvouba was instead appointed as Minister of State and Coordinator of the Basic Infrastructure Cluster, in charge of Transport, Civil Aviation, and the Merchant Marine, and he remained the highest-ranking member of the government.
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 was Prime Minister of Congo-Brazzaville from January 2005 to September 2009. He is a member of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT, or Parti Congolais du Travail) and has held key positions under President Denis Sassou-Nguesso since 1997.
Mvouba was Director of the Cabinet of the Head of State from October 1997 to January 1999, and since January 1999 he has been a minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
in the government. When his post of Prime Minister was eliminated in September 2009, he was instead appointed as Minister of State and Coordinator of the Basic Infrastructure Cluster, in charge of Transport, Civil Aviation, and the Merchant Marine.
Political career
Mvouba was born in KindambaKindamba
Kindamba is a city and seat of Kindamba District in the Pool Region of northeastern Republic of the Congo.The city is served by Kindamba Airport....
, in the Pool Region
Pool Region
Pool is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the southeastern part of the country. It borders the departments of Bouenza, Lékoumou, and Plateaux, and internationally, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also surrounds the commune district of the national capital, Brazzaville. The...
, and became a railways engineer, working at the Congo-Ocean Railway
Congo-Ocean Railway
The Congo–Ocean Railway links the Atlantic port of Pointe-Noire with Brazzaville, a distance of 502 kilometres...
(Chemin de fer Congo-Océan) beginning in 1976. He directed PCT candidate Sassou-Nguesso's presidential campaign in 1992; after Pascal Lissouba
Pascal Lissouba
Pascal Lissouba was the first democratically elected President of the Republic of the Congo from August 31, 1992 to October 15, 1997. He was overthrown by the current President Denis Sassou Nguesso in the 1997 civil war....
won the election and took office as President, Mvouba declined an invitation from Lissouba to become Minister of Trade. Subsequently, on 25 December 1992, he was appointed as Minister of Youth and Sports in the power-sharing government of Prime Minister Claude Antoine Dacosta, which was to serve until a new parliamentary election
Republic of the Congo parliamentary election, 1993
Parliamentary elections were held in the Republic of the Congo on 2 May 1993, with a second round in several constituencies on 6 June. The result was a victory for the Presidential Tendency coalition, which won 65 of the 125 seats in the National Assembly....
was held in 1993.
Mvouba was spokesman of the pro-Sassou-Nguesso United Democratic Forces
United Democratic Forces (Congo)
The United Democratic Forces was an alliance of political parties in the Republic of the Congo, led by Denis Sassou-Nguesso. Sassou-Nguesso, presidential candidate of both the Congolese Labour Party and the FDU, won the presidential election of 10 March 2002 with 89.4% of the vote...
during the June–October 1997 civil war. The civil war resulted in Sassou Nguesso's return to power in October 1997, and Mvouba was appointed as Director of the Cabinet of the Head of State (with the rank of Minister) at the end of the same month. He held that post until being appointed as Minister of Transport, Civil Aviation, and the Merchant Marine on January 12, 1999.
It was announced on February 14, 2002 that Mvouba had been appointed as Sassou Nguesso's campaign director for the March 2002 presidential election
Republic of the Congo presidential election, 2002
A presidential election was held in the Republic of the Congo on 10 March 2002. This followed a civil war in 1997, which returned Denis Sassou Nguesso to power, and a subsequent transitional period, in which a new constitution was written and approved by referendum in January 2002.The election...
. Sassou Nguesso won this election with no meaningful competition. Subsequently, in the government named on August 18, 2002, Mvouba was promoted to the position of Minister of State for Transport and Privatization in charge of the Coordination of Government Action. He became Prime Minister in charge of the Coordination of Government Action and Privatization (although not head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
) in the government named on January 7, 2005. He was appointed as Prime Minister even though the constitution does not provide for that position.
He has been a member of the Political Bureau of the PCT and the first secretary of its youth organization, the Union of the Congolese Socialist Youth
Union of the Congolese Socialist Youth
The Congolese Socialist Youth Union was the youth wing of the Congolese Party of Labour , intended to supervise the young people. From 1969 to 1992, it played a major role in disciplining the young members of the Party and building up their character with Socialist ideas.The destiny of the young...
(UJSC, Union de la jeunesse socialiste congolaise).
Mvouba was elected to the National Assembly
National Assembly of the Republic of the Congo
The Parliament of the Republic of Congo has two chambers. The lower house is the National Assembly . It has 153 members, for a five year term in single-seat constituencies.-See also:...
as a PCT candidate from Kindamba constituency in the 2007 parliamentary election
Republic of the Congo parliamentary election, 2007
A parliamentary election was held in the Republic of the Congo on 24 June 2007, with a second round initially planned for 22 July 2007, but then postponed to 5 August 2007. According to the National Commission of the Organization of the Elections , 1,807 candidates stood in the first round for 137...
, receiving 75.5% of the vote. Following the death of Senate President and PCT Secretary-General Ambroise Noumazalaye
Ambroise Noumazalaye
Ambroise Édouard Noumazalaye was a Congolese politician who was Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo from 1966 to 1968, under President Alphonse Massamba-Débat. Later in life he served as Secretary-General of the Congolese Labour Party and was a supporter of President Denis Sassou Nguesso...
on November 17, 2007, Mvouba became Interim Secretary-General of the PCT.
At the time of the June 2008 local elections, Mvouba is President of the National Coordination of the Rally of the Presidential Majority (RMP), the coalition supporting Sassou-Nguesso. After 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...
, he appointed a new government on September 15, 2009, in which Mvouba's post of Prime Minister was eliminated; Mvouba was instead appointed as Minister of State and Coordinator of the Basic Infrastructure Cluster, in charge of Transport, Civil Aviation, and the Merchant Marine, and he remained the highest-ranking member of the government.