Paramanga Ernest Yonli
Encyclopedia
Paramanga Ernest Yonli, also known as Ernest Paramanga Yonli (born December 31, 1956), is a Burkinabé
politician and diplomat who was the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso
from November 7, 2000 to June 11, 2007. Since January 2008, Yonli has been the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to the United States
. He is a member of the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress
(CDP) party.
. He attended secondary school in Ouagadougou
, and from 1976 to 1979 he studied economics at the University of Ouagadougou
. After graduating from that university, he attended the University of Benin in Lomé
, Togo
, obtaining a master's degree in economics, specializing in planning and development, in 1981. He then continued his studies in France
, attending the Sorbonne
; he obtained a diploma in international economy and development in 1984 and a doctorate in agricultural development in 1985. Subsequently he worked as a researcher on agricultural development and food security, based in Ouagadougou. He obtained his PhD degree at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Groningen
in February 1997 with a thesis entitled "Stratégies paysannes en matière de sécurité alimentaire et commercialisation céréalière - le rôle des banques de céréales dans le Nord du Plateau Central du Burkina Faso" ("Agricultural strategies in the field of food security and the commercialisation of cereal production – the role of cereal banks in the North of the Central Plateau of Burkina Faso").
He was Director of the Prime Minister's Office from February 1996 to September 1996, under Prime Minister Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo. He then served as Minister of the Civil Service and Institutional Development before being appointed as Prime Minister by President Blaise Compaoré
on November 7, 2000, replacing Ouedraogo. His government, named on November 12, included 36 members, with seven opposition parties participating; three of these parties—the African Independence Party
, the African Convention for Democracy, and the Panafrican Sankarist Convention—had already participated in Ouedraogo's government, while four were new to the government, including the Alliance for Democracy and Federation–African Democratic Rally (ADF-RDA).
Yonli was elected to the National Assembly
from Tapoa Province as a CDP candidate in the May 2007 parliamentary election
. Following the election, he submitted his government's resignation to Compaoré on June 3, 2007, and Tertius Zongo
was appointed as his successor the next day. Zongo succeeded Yonli on June 11.
Yonli also resigned from the National Assembly, leaving his seat to a substitute, and he was expected to be appointed to a diplomatic post after leaving office as Prime Minister. Several months later, he was appointed as Ambassador to the United States
on December 5, 2007. He presented his credentials to US President George W. Bush
on January 22, 2008.
Yonli is married to the daughter of Saye Zerbo
.
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...
politician and diplomat who was the Prime Minister of 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...
from November 7, 2000 to June 11, 2007. Since January 2008, Yonli has been the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He is a member of the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress
Congress for Democracy and Progress
The Congress for Democracy and Progress is the ruling political party in Burkina Faso. Its President is Roch Marc Christian Kaboré....
(CDP) party.
Biography
Yonli was born in Tansarga in Tapoa ProvinceTapoa Province
Tapoa is one of the 45 provinces of Burkina Faso, located in its Est Region.Its capital is Diapaga.Tapoa is divided into 8 departments:*Bottou*Diapaga*Kantchari*Logobou*Namounou*Partiaga*Tambaga*Tansarga-See also:*Regions of Burkina Faso...
. He attended secondary school in Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
, and from 1976 to 1979 he studied economics at the University of Ouagadougou
University of Ouagadougou
Founded in 1974, the University of Ouagadougou is located in the area of Zogona in Ouagadougou. But in 1995 a second campus for professional education known as University Polytechnique of Bobo was opened in the city of Bobo Dioulasso and a third campus for teacher training in Koudougou in 1996...
. After graduating from that university, he attended the University of Benin in Lomé
Lomé
Lomé, with an estimated population of 737,751, is the capital and largest city of Togo. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, Lomé is the country's administrative and industrial center and its chief port. The city exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels...
, Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
, obtaining a master's degree in economics, specializing in planning and development, in 1981. He then continued his studies 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...
, attending the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
; he obtained a diploma in international economy and development in 1984 and a doctorate in agricultural development in 1985. Subsequently he worked as a researcher on agricultural development and food security, based in Ouagadougou. He obtained his PhD degree at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
in February 1997 with a thesis entitled "Stratégies paysannes en matière de sécurité alimentaire et commercialisation céréalière - le rôle des banques de céréales dans le Nord du Plateau Central du Burkina Faso" ("Agricultural strategies in the field of food security and the commercialisation of cereal production – the role of cereal banks in the North of the Central Plateau of Burkina Faso").
He was Director of the Prime Minister's Office from February 1996 to September 1996, under Prime Minister Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo. He then served as Minister of the Civil Service and Institutional Development before being appointed as Prime Minister by President Blaise Compaoré
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 November 7, 2000, replacing Ouedraogo. His government, named on November 12, included 36 members, with seven opposition parties participating; three of these parties—the African Independence Party
African Independence Party (Burkina Faso)
African Independence Party is a political party in Burkina Faso , led by Philippe Ouédraogo.It was a part of the Pan-African communist African Independence Party , which established its branch in Upper Volta in 1963. In 1973 PAI launched the Patriotic League for Development as its open mass front...
, the African Convention for Democracy, and the Panafrican Sankarist Convention—had already participated in Ouedraogo's government, while four were new to the government, including the Alliance for Democracy and Federation–African Democratic Rally (ADF-RDA).
Yonli was elected to 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:...
from Tapoa Province as a CDP candidate in the May 2007 parliamentary election
Burkinabe parliamentary election, 2007
A parliamentary election was held in Burkina Faso on 6 May 2007. The ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress won 73 out of 111 seats....
. Following the election, he submitted his government's resignation to Compaoré on June 3, 2007, and Tertius Zongo
Tertius Zongo
Tertius Zongo was the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from June 2007 to April 2011.-Biography:Zongo was born in Koudougou. He has an extensive background in economics and accounting. He became Minister Delegate for Budget and Planning, under the Minister of the Economy, Finances, and Planning, in...
was appointed as his successor the next day. Zongo succeeded Yonli on June 11.
Yonli also resigned from the National Assembly, leaving his seat to a substitute, and he was expected to be appointed to a diplomatic post after leaving office as Prime Minister. Several months later, he was appointed as Ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on December 5, 2007. He presented his credentials to US President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on January 22, 2008.
Yonli is married to the daughter of Saye Zerbo
Saye Zerbo
Colonel Saye Zerbo was a President of Upper Volta from 25 November 1980 to 7 November 1982. He led a coup in 1980, but was resisted by trade unions and was overthrown by Maj. Dr.Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo and the Council of Popular Salvation .Zerbo comes from Tougan in Sourou Province in the western...
.