André Okombi Salissa
Encyclopedia
André Okombi Salissa is a Congolese
politician. A member of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT), 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 Democracy - Youth Movement
(CADD-MJ).
, located in the Plateaux Region of Congo-Brazzaville. After the June–October 1997 civil war, he was appointed by President Denis Sassou Nguesso
as Minister of Technical and Professional Education on 2 November 1997. His portfolio was expanded on 12 January 1999, when he was appointed as Minister of Technical and Vocational Education, in charge of the Redeployment of the Youth, Civic Instruction, and Sports. In the 2002 parliamentary election
, he was elected to the National Assembly
as the PCT candidate in Lekana constitency; he defeated Minister of Public Works Florent Ntsiba
in the second round of voting, held in June 2002.
After the 2002 election, Okombi Salissa remained in the government and was moved to the post of Minister of Labour, Employment, and Social Security on 18 August 2002. He was accordingly succeeded by Pierre-Michel Nguimbi
at the Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education on 23 August 2002, and he in turn succeeded René-Dambert Ndouane at the Ministry of Labour on 26 August 2002. The newspaper Le Choc reported on 20 July 2004 that Okombi Salissa, together with three former ministers, had been barred from leaving the country without Sassou Nguesso's approval due to suspicions that they had misused public funds. This report was denied on the next day by public prosecutor Georges Akiéra.
Okombi Salissa was moved from his post as Minister of Labour, Employment, and Social Security to that of Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on 7 January 2005, and he succeeded Isidore Mvouba
at the head of the Ministry of Transport on 25 January. Two years later, on 3 March 2007, he was instead appointed as Minister of Tourism and the Environment; following that appointment, he was succeeded as Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation by Emile Ouosso on 12 March 2007. As a result of Okombi Salissa's appointment as Minister of Tourism and the Environment, he became President of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) because AMCEN was chaired by Congo-Brazzaville at that time.
In the 2007 parliamentary election
, Okombi Salissa was again elected to the National Assembly as the PCT candidate in Lekana; he won the seat in the first round with 91.34% of the vote. Following the election, he remained Minister of Tourism and the Environment in the government appointed on 30 December 2007. He was President of AMCEN until its 12th Session in June 2008, when South Africa assumed the presidency instead.
Okombi Salissa is the President-Coordinator of the Action Committee for the Defense of Democracy - Youth Movement (CADD-MJ), a political association affiliated with the PCT; he is also the PCT's Permanent Secretary for Youth, Categorical Unions, and Associated Movements. At CADD-MJ's Second Ordinary Congress in December 2007, he was re-elected by acclamation as President-Coordinator of the Central Council of the CADD-MJ. The CADD-MJ has been critically characterized as a "private militia", and Okombi Salissa described as an occultist
.
At the time of the July 2009 presidential election
, Okombi Salissa was Head of the Voter Mobilization Department for Sassou Nguesso's re-election campaign.
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. A member of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT), 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 Democracy - Youth Movement
Action Committee for the Defense of Democracy - Youth Movement
The Action Committee for the Defense of Democracy - Youth Movement is a youth organization in the Republic of the Congo, affiliated with the Congolese Labour Party...
(CADD-MJ).
Political career
Okombi Salissa was born in LekanaLekana
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. After the June–October 1997 civil war, he was appointed by 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...
as Minister of Technical and Professional Education on 2 November 1997. His portfolio was expanded on 12 January 1999, when he was appointed as Minister of Technical and Vocational Education, in charge of the Redeployment of the Youth, Civic Instruction, and Sports. In the 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 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 the PCT candidate in Lekana constitency; he defeated Minister of Public Works Florent Ntsiba
Florent Ntsiba
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...
in the second round of voting, held in June 2002.
After the 2002 election, Okombi Salissa remained in the government and was moved to the post of Minister of Labour, Employment, and Social Security on 18 August 2002. He was accordingly succeeded by Pierre-Michel Nguimbi
Pierre-Michel Nguimbi
Pierre-Michel Nguimbi is a Congolese politician who served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of Technical and Vocational Education from 2002 to 2009. Previously, he was briefly a minister in 1992 and was an ambassador during the mid-1990s.-Political career:Nguimbi was born in...
at the Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education on 23 August 2002, and he in turn succeeded René-Dambert Ndouane at the Ministry of Labour on 26 August 2002. The newspaper Le Choc reported on 20 July 2004 that Okombi Salissa, together with three former ministers, had been barred from leaving the country without Sassou Nguesso's approval due to suspicions that they had misused public funds. This report was denied on the next day by public prosecutor Georges Akiéra.
Okombi Salissa was moved from his post as Minister of Labour, Employment, and Social Security to that of Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on 7 January 2005, and he succeeded Isidore Mvouba
Isidore Mvouba
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 and has held key positions under President Denis Sassou-Nguesso since 1997.Mvouba was Director of the Cabinet of the Head of State...
at the head of the Ministry of Transport on 25 January. Two years later, on 3 March 2007, he was instead appointed as Minister of Tourism and the Environment; following that appointment, he was succeeded as Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation by Emile Ouosso on 12 March 2007. As a result of Okombi Salissa's appointment as Minister of Tourism and the Environment, he became President of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) because AMCEN was chaired by Congo-Brazzaville at that time.
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...
, Okombi Salissa was again elected to the National Assembly as the PCT candidate in Lekana; he won the seat in the first round with 91.34% of the vote. Following the election, he remained Minister of Tourism and the Environment in the government appointed on 30 December 2007. He was President of AMCEN until its 12th Session in June 2008, when South Africa assumed the presidency instead.
Okombi Salissa is the President-Coordinator of the Action Committee for the Defense of Democracy - Youth Movement (CADD-MJ), a political association affiliated with the PCT; he is also the PCT's Permanent Secretary for Youth, Categorical Unions, and Associated Movements. At CADD-MJ's Second Ordinary Congress in December 2007, he was re-elected by acclamation as President-Coordinator of the Central Council of the CADD-MJ. The CADD-MJ has been critically characterized as a "private militia", and Okombi Salissa described as an occultist
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
.
At the time of 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...
, Okombi Salissa was Head of the Voter Mobilization Department for Sassou Nguesso's re-election campaign.