Augustin Kontchou Kouomegni
Encyclopedia
Augustin Kontchou Kouomegni (born 1945) is a Cameroon
ian political figure who served in the government of Cameroon from 1990 to 2001. As Minister of Information and then Minister of Communication, Kontchou was a prominent and controversial figure, reviled by the opposition, during the political turmoil of the early 1990s. Later, he was Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
from 1997 to 2001 and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the University of Douala
from 2005 to 2008.
Kontchou was born in Nkongsamba
. He was Secretary-General of the National Federation of Cameroonian Students from 1968 to 1969, and in 1988 he became President of the Cameroonian Association of Political Science. He was first appointed to the government as Minister of Information and Culture on 7 December 1990.
Following student protests in April 1991, which were broken up by force, Kontchou claimed that there were "none dead" ("zéro mort"); the opposition, challenging this claim, turned it into an anti-government slogan. He served as Minister of Information until he was appointed as Minister of Communication and Government Spokesman in the government named on April 9, 1992. He held this post during the controversial October 1992 presidential election
, which was officially won by President Paul Biya
, although the opposition alleged fraud. Both before and after the election, he frequently appeared on Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) to defend Biya and criticize the opposition, although he ignored a challenge by Bernard Muna, the campaign manager for opposition candidate John Fru Ndi
, to participate in a live televised debate. According to Muna, Kontchou "effectively control[led] and manipulate[d]" the media and used it to "deceive the people". When Fru Ndi was placed under house arrest
amidst violence and a state of emergency in the Northwest Province in late October 1992, Kontchou said that "if [Fru Ndi] was free, it would be a danger to the entire country". Following the election, Kontchou was promoted to the rank of Minister of State, while retaining the communication portfolio, on November 27, 1992. After five years in that position, he was named Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on December 7, 1997. He served as Foreign Minister for over three years until he was replaced by François-Xavier Ngoubeyou in the government named on April 27, 2001.
On September 2, 2005, Kontchou was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the University of Douala
; he was installed in that post on September 13. Kontchou remained Chairman of the Board of Directors for over three years before Biya dismissed him in late December 2008.
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
ian political figure who served in the government of Cameroon from 1990 to 2001. As Minister of Information and then Minister of Communication, Kontchou was a prominent and controversial figure, reviled by the opposition, during the political turmoil of the early 1990s. Later, he was Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
from 1997 to 2001 and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the University of Douala
University of Douala
University of Douala or Université de Douala is located in Douala in Cameroon .It was founded in 1977-External links:***...
from 2005 to 2008.
Kontchou was born in Nkongsamba
Nkongsamba
Nkongsamba is a city in western Cameroon. It is located in the Moungo department, which is in the Littoral region. The city had a population of 104,050 inhabitants at the 2005 Census. The city is a centre of farming of oil palms, bananas and coffee, and is situated between two mountains, the...
. He was Secretary-General of the National Federation of Cameroonian Students from 1968 to 1969, and in 1988 he became President of the Cameroonian Association of Political Science. He was first appointed to the government as Minister of Information and Culture on 7 December 1990.
Following student protests in April 1991, which were broken up by force, Kontchou claimed that there were "none dead" ("zéro mort"); the opposition, challenging this claim, turned it into an anti-government slogan. He served as Minister of Information until he was appointed as Minister of Communication and Government Spokesman in the government named on April 9, 1992. He held this post during the controversial October 1992 presidential election
Cameroonian presidential election, 1992
A presidential election was held in Cameroon on 11 October 1992. It was the first presidential election since multi-party politics had been legalised, and it was also the first to feature more than one candidate. Incumbent Paul Biya won with 39.98% of the vote. Voter turnout was 71.9%.The 1992...
, which was officially won by President Paul Biya
Paul Biya
Paul Biya is a Cameroonian politician who has been the President of Cameroon since 6 November 1982. A native of Cameroon's south, Biya rose rapidly as a bureaucrat under President Ahmadou Ahidjo in the 1960s, serving as Secretary-General of the Presidency from 1968 to 1975 and then as Prime...
, although the opposition alleged fraud. Both before and after the election, he frequently appeared on Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) to defend Biya and criticize the opposition, although he ignored a challenge by Bernard Muna, the campaign manager for opposition candidate John Fru Ndi
John Fru Ndi
Ni John Fru Ndi is the founder and leader of Cameroon's Social Democratic Front .Fru Ndi was born in Baba II, near Bamenda in the Northwest Province of Cameroon. The title of Ni, a marker of respect, was given to him when he was born...
, to participate in a live televised debate. According to Muna, Kontchou "effectively control[led] and manipulate[d]" the media and used it to "deceive the people". When Fru Ndi was placed under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
amidst violence and a state of emergency in the Northwest Province in late October 1992, Kontchou said that "if [Fru Ndi] was free, it would be a danger to the entire country". Following the election, Kontchou was promoted to the rank of Minister of State, while retaining the communication portfolio, on November 27, 1992. After five years in that position, he was named Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on December 7, 1997. He served as Foreign Minister for over three years until he was replaced by François-Xavier Ngoubeyou in the government named on April 27, 2001.
On September 2, 2005, Kontchou was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the University of Douala
University of Douala
University of Douala or Université de Douala is located in Douala in Cameroon .It was founded in 1977-External links:***...
; he was installed in that post on September 13. Kontchou remained Chairman of the Board of Directors for over three years before Biya dismissed him in late December 2008.