Aimé Emmanuel Yoka
Encyclopedia
Aimé Emmanuel Yoka is a Congolese
politician, currently serving in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of State for Justice and Human Rights.
and a lawyer by profession.
Under Sassou Nguesso, Yoka was first appointed to the government on 28 December 1980 as Minister-Delegate at the Presidency, in charge of Cooperation. Subsequently he was Director of the Cabinet of the President before being appointed as Minister of Mines and Energy, in charge of Posts and Telecommunications, in August 1988. He was elected to the Central Committee of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT) for the first time at the PCT's Fourth Ordinary Congress on 26–31 July 1989, and he was retained in his ministerial post in the government appointed on 13 August 1989. He left the government when the PCT's single-party rule collapsed in 1990–1991.
Shortly after the outbreak of the 1997 civil war on 5 June 1997, Yoka was included on the National Mediation Committee. When Sassou Nguesso returned to power in October 1997, ousting President Pascal Lissouba
, he scrapped the elected local authorities that had been put in place under Lissouba and directly appointed new local authorities. Sassou Nguesso appointed Yoka as Mayor of Brazzaville
, the capital; Yoka served in that post from 1997 to 1999, and he was Congo-Brazzaville's Ambassador to Morocco
from 1999 to 2002. During that period, Yoka also chaired the commission responsible for drafting the 2002 constitution.
On 19 August 2002, Yoka was again appointed as Director of the Cabinet of President Sassou Nguesso, with the rank of Minister; accordingly, he succeeded Gérard Bitsindou
in that capacity on 22 August 2002. He was subsequently appointed to the government as Minister of State for Justice and Human Rights on 3 March 2007, and he was succeeded as Director of the Cabinet by Firmin Ayessa
on 22 May 2007.
Sassou Nguesso, acting on Yoka's recommendation as Minister of Justice, commuted all death sentences to life in prison with hard labor
in August 2007.
After a French group, Zoe's Ark
, made an abortive attempt to fly children out of Chad
to Europe, causing a major scandal, Yoka announced on 31 October 2007 that the Congolese government was suspending international adoptions. Explaining this decision, he cited the Chadian incident as well as the adoptions of 17 Congolese children by Spanish families, which occurred shortly before the Chadian incident.
Yoka faced criticism from human rights advocates in late 2007 for inaction on a draft law on the protection of indigenous peoples
, despite the government's apparent support for it.
Prior to the July 2009 presidential election
, Yoka was President of the Preparatory Committee for the National Initiative for Peace (INP), a political association promoting Sassou Nguesso's re-election while stressing the importance of peace. At the association's debut rally in Brazzaville on 28 February 2009, Yoka introduced it to the public, explaining the purpose and approach of the INP.
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, currently serving in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of State for Justice and Human Rights.
Political career
Yoka was born in Oyo, in the north of Congo-Brazzaville; he is a cousin of President Denis Sassou NguessoDenis 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...
and a lawyer by profession.
Under Sassou Nguesso, Yoka was first appointed to the government on 28 December 1980 as Minister-Delegate at the Presidency, in charge of Cooperation. Subsequently he was Director of the Cabinet of the President before being appointed as Minister of Mines and Energy, in charge of Posts and Telecommunications, in August 1988. He was elected to the Central Committee of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT) for the first time at the PCT's Fourth Ordinary Congress on 26–31 July 1989, and he was retained in his ministerial post in the government appointed on 13 August 1989. He left the government when the PCT's single-party rule collapsed in 1990–1991.
Shortly after the outbreak of the 1997 civil war on 5 June 1997, Yoka was included on the National Mediation Committee. When Sassou Nguesso returned to power in October 1997, ousting President 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....
, he scrapped the elected local authorities that had been put in place under Lissouba and directly appointed new local authorities. Sassou Nguesso appointed Yoka as Mayor of Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
, the capital; Yoka served in that post from 1997 to 1999, and he was Congo-Brazzaville's Ambassador to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
from 1999 to 2002. During that period, Yoka also chaired the commission responsible for drafting the 2002 constitution.
On 19 August 2002, Yoka was again appointed as Director of the Cabinet of President Sassou Nguesso, with the rank of Minister; accordingly, he succeeded Gérard Bitsindou
Gérard Bitsindou
Gérard Bitsindou is a Congolese political figure who has been President of the Constitutional Court of Congo-Brazzaville since 2003. He previously served as Secretary-General of the Presidency from 1980 to 1991 and as a minister from 1997 to 2002....
in that capacity on 22 August 2002. He was subsequently appointed to the government as Minister of State for Justice and Human Rights on 3 March 2007, and he was succeeded as Director of the Cabinet by Firmin Ayessa
Firmin Ayessa
Firmin Ayessa is a Congolese politician. As a long-time associate of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Ayessa has held a series of key posts at the Presidency of Congo-Brazzaville; he was Director of the Civil Cabinet of the President from 1999 to 2002, Deputy Director of the Presidential Cabinet...
on 22 May 2007.
Sassou Nguesso, acting on Yoka's recommendation as Minister of Justice, commuted all death sentences to life in prison with hard labor
Hard Labor
Hard Labor is the eleventh album by American rock band Three Dog Night, released in 1974 .- Cover Artwork :The original album cover, depicting of the birth of a record album , was deemed too controversial and was soon reworked with a huge bandage covering the "birth". The cover also includes an...
in August 2007.
After a French group, Zoe's Ark
Zoé's Ark
Zoé's Ark is a French charity organization with the aim of increasing awareness of the crisis in Darfur and providing aid for children affected by the conflict...
, made an abortive attempt to fly children out of Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
to Europe, causing a major scandal, Yoka announced on 31 October 2007 that the Congolese government was suspending international adoptions. Explaining this decision, he cited the Chadian incident as well as the adoptions of 17 Congolese children by Spanish families, which occurred shortly before the Chadian incident.
Yoka faced criticism from human rights advocates in late 2007 for inaction on a draft law on the protection of indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
, despite the government's apparent support for it.
Prior to 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...
, Yoka was President of the Preparatory Committee for the National Initiative for Peace (INP), a political association promoting Sassou Nguesso's re-election while stressing the importance of peace. At the association's debut rally in Brazzaville on 28 February 2009, Yoka introduced it to the public, explaining the purpose and approach of the INP.