Gabriel Lisette
Encyclopedia
Gabriel Francisco Lisette (April 2, 1919–March 3, 2001) was a Chad
ian politician that played a key-role in the decolonization of Chad.
Of African descent, he was born at Portobelo
in Panama
on April 2, 1919. He became a French colonial
administrator, and in this role was posted to Chad in 1946. In the November of the same year Lisette was elected as deputy to the French National Assembly
. In February 1947 he founded the country's first Africa
n political party, the Chadian Progressive Party
(PPT), a radical and nationalist organization calling for self-determination
. It was a branch of the Marxist-oriented
inter-territorial African Democratic Rally
, of which he was to be later chosen as secretary-general.
The PPT was not immediately successful, as it found itself boycotted by the French colonial administration and from the African traditional rulers, who preferred the more conservative Chadian Democratic Union
(UDT). The situation radically changed with the French Overseas Reform Act of 1956 which greatly expanded the electoral suffrage. Also, the UDT was riven by splits and dissensions; as a result, Lisette triumphantly won the 1957 elections for the Territorial Assembly, taking with his allies 47 seats out of 65.
Following this victory Lisette became first on May 14, 1957, Vice-President, and then, on July 26, 1958, President of the Government Council. He kept this position until he was deserted by the African traditional rulers, who supported a motion of no confidence
presented on February 11, 1959, behind which was Ahmed Koulamallah
. Lisette was able to immediately throw-down the two succeeding governments led by Gontchomé Sahoulba
and Koulamallah, but when the PPT had again to form the government he stepped down in favour of a native Chadian, the party's secretary-general
François Tombalbaye, who became head of the government on March 26. Lisette entered the government as deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic coordination and foreign affairs.
But Lisette's fall was nearing: a week before Chad became independent on August 11, 1960, Tombalbaye purged him from the PPT, declared him a noncitizen while he was traveling abroad, and barred him from returning to Chad. This event signed the end of Lisette's political career in Chad, and Lisette went in exile in France, where he had been named on July 23, 1959 "councillor minister" in the government guided by Michel Debré
, a formal charge he would keep till May 19, 1961. In exile he continued to worry Tombalbaye as a possible menace for his regime, especially from 1971 when relations between France and Chad started cooling.
In 1976 he founded with Alain Girard a Non-governmental organization
, the Société mutuelle des originaires d'Outre-Mer (SMODOM), with in mind the mutual aid societies active in Europe in the 19th century. As those, its main finalities were to create a society whose members covered the expenses if one of them was ill or, if dead, could not afford a funeral.
He later wrote a book on the events to which he participated, Le Combat du Rassemblement démocratique African pour la décolonisation pacifique de l'Afrique noire.
He died at Port-de-Lanne
, in France, on March 3, 2001.
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...
ian politician that played a key-role in the decolonization of Chad.
Of African descent, he was born at Portobelo
Portobelo, Panama
Portobelo is a port city in Colón Province, Panama. It is located on the northern part of the Isthmus of Panama and has a deep natural harbor. Today, Portobelo is a sleepy city with a population of fewer than 3,000...
in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
on April 2, 1919. He became a French colonial
French colonial empires
The French colonial empire was the set of territories outside Europe that were under French rule primarily from the 17th century to the late 1960s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the colonial empire of France was the second-largest in the world behind the British Empire. The French colonial empire...
administrator, and in this role was posted to Chad in 1946. In the November of the same year Lisette was elected as deputy to the French National Assembly
French National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
. In February 1947 he founded the country's first Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n political party, the Chadian Progressive Party
Chadian Progressive Party
The Chadian Progressive Party was the first African political party created in Chad, active from 1947 to 1973...
(PPT), a radical and nationalist organization calling for self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
. It was a branch of the Marxist-oriented
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
inter-territorial African Democratic Rally
African Democratic Rally
The African Democratic Rally was a political party in French West Africa, led by Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Founded in Bamako in 1946, the RDA quickly became one of the most important forces for independence in the region. Initially a Pan-Africanist movement, the RDA ceased to function as a...
, of which he was to be later chosen as secretary-general.
The PPT was not immediately successful, as it found itself boycotted by the French colonial administration and from the African traditional rulers, who preferred the more conservative Chadian Democratic Union
Chadian Democratic Union
The Chadian Democratic Union is the second African political party ever created in Chad. It's ancestor can be traced in the Mutuelle Amicale Tchadienne , created in 1945 under the impulse of Joseph Brahim Seid by Mahamat Yakouma, Mustapha Batran, Abdoulaye Touré, Souleymane Naye, Adoum Tchéré and...
(UDT). The situation radically changed with the French Overseas Reform Act of 1956 which greatly expanded the electoral suffrage. Also, the UDT was riven by splits and dissensions; as a result, Lisette triumphantly won the 1957 elections for the Territorial Assembly, taking with his allies 47 seats out of 65.
Following this victory Lisette became first on May 14, 1957, Vice-President, and then, on July 26, 1958, President of the Government Council. He kept this position until he was deserted by the African traditional rulers, who supported a motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
presented on February 11, 1959, behind which was Ahmed Koulamallah
Ahmed Koulamallah
Ahmed Koulamallah was a prominent politician in Colonial Chad. He was the estranged son of the sultan of Baguirmi and the charismatic leader of the Tijaniyyah Islamic brotherhood in Chad....
. Lisette was able to immediately throw-down the two succeeding governments led by Gontchomé Sahoulba
Gontchomé Sahoulba
Gontchomé Sahoulba was a Chadian politician who played a prominent role during the decolonization in Chad. Born in 1909, he was a Moundang chief of Mayo-Kebbi, in what was then the French colony of Chad.- Political activity in UDT :...
and Koulamallah, but when the PPT had again to form the government he stepped down in favour of a native Chadian, the party's secretary-general
Secretary-General
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
François Tombalbaye, who became head of the government on March 26. Lisette entered the government as deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic coordination and foreign affairs.
But Lisette's fall was nearing: a week before Chad became independent on August 11, 1960, Tombalbaye purged him from the PPT, declared him a noncitizen while he was traveling abroad, and barred him from returning to Chad. This event signed the end of Lisette's political career in Chad, and Lisette went in exile in France, where he had been named on July 23, 1959 "councillor minister" in the government guided by Michel Debré
Michel Debré
Michel Jean-Pierre Debré was a French Gaullist politician. He is considered the "father" of the current Constitution of France, and was the first Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic...
, a formal charge he would keep till May 19, 1961. In exile he continued to worry Tombalbaye as a possible menace for his regime, especially from 1971 when relations between France and Chad started cooling.
In 1976 he founded with Alain Girard a Non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
, the Société mutuelle des originaires d'Outre-Mer (SMODOM), with in mind the mutual aid societies active in Europe in the 19th century. As those, its main finalities were to create a society whose members covered the expenses if one of them was ill or, if dead, could not afford a funeral.
He later wrote a book on the events to which he participated, Le Combat du Rassemblement démocratique African pour la décolonisation pacifique de l'Afrique noire.
He died at Port-de-Lanne
Port-de-Lanne
Port-de-Lanne is a commune in the Landes department in Aquitaine in south-western France.-See also:*Communes of the Landes department...
, in France, on March 3, 2001.