Jean-Claude Gakosso
Encyclopedia
Jean-Claude Gakosso is a Congolese
politician. He has served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of Arts and Culture since 2002.
of Plateaux Region, and studied at the Sorbonne
in France. He was a lecturer on journalism
at the Marien Ngouabi University
in Brazzaville
, and in 1995 he criticized a press law passed by the National Assembly
, accusing the government of "working to restrict press freedom". After the June–October 1997 civil war, he was President Denis Sassou Nguesso
's adviser on communication, posts, and telecommunications from 1997 to 2002.
On 18 August 2002, he was appointed to the government as Minister of Arts, Culture, and Tourism; he succeeded Mambou Aimée Gnali
at the head of that ministry on 22 August.
In a ceremony at the Marien Ngouabi Mausoleum, Gakosso rekindled the eternal flame
commemorating President Marien Ngouabi
on 11 November 2002. The flame had been extinguished since the 1997 war. Speaking on the occasion, Gakosso said that he had prioritized the restoration of the flame when he took over as Minister of Culture because "it symbolizes the pain, resistance, self-sacrifice, and courage embodied by President Marien Ngouabi."
While serving as Minister of Culture, he also served for a time as Interim Minister of Communication, in charge of Relations with Parliament, as well as Government Spokesman. His portfolio was reduced in scope on 3 March 2007, when he was appointed as Minister of Arts and Culture. At the time of the fifth Panafrican Music Festival in Brazzaville in July 2005, Gakosso was President of the Festival's Steering Committee.
In the June 2007 parliamentary election
, Gakosso stood as the Congolese Labour Party (PCT) candidate in the Ongogni constituency of Plateaux Region. He replaced Pierre Ngollo as the PCT candidate; although there were rumors of rivalry between the two, Gakosso and Ngollo appeared together when Gakosso announced his candidacy, and Ngollo instead stood as the PCT candidate in the Ouenzé I constituency of Brazzaville. Gakosso won his seat in the first round with 99.72% of the vote. Following the election, he retained his post as Minister of Arts and Culture in the government appointed on 30 December 2007.
Prior to the July 2009 presidential election
, Gakosso was Rapporteur
of the National Initiative for Peace (INP), a political association promoting Sassou Nguesso's re-election while stressing the importance of peace.
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. He has served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of Arts and Culture since 2002.
Professional and political career
Gakosso was born in Inkouélé, located in the Gamboma DistrictGamboma District
Gamboma is a district in the Plateaux Region of eastern Republic of the Congo. The capital lies at Gamboma....
of Plateaux Region, and studied at 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...
in France. He was a lecturer on journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at the Marien Ngouabi University
Marien Ngouabi University
Marien Ngouabi University is the only state-funded university in the Republic of Congo. It is located in the capital of Brazzaville.-History:...
in 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...
, and in 1995 he criticized a press law passed by 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:...
, accusing the government of "working to restrict press freedom". After the June–October 1997 civil war, he was 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...
's adviser on communication, posts, and telecommunications from 1997 to 2002.
On 18 August 2002, he was appointed to the government as Minister of Arts, Culture, and Tourism; he succeeded Mambou Aimée Gnali
Mambou Aimée Gnali
Mambou Aimée Gnali was Minister of Culture and the Arts, in charge of Tourism, in the government of the Republic of the Congo from January 1999 to August 2002. In the 1950s she was among the few Congolese women to study in France. She has also written an autobiography.Gnali was appointed as...
at the head of that ministry on 22 August.
In a ceremony at the Marien Ngouabi Mausoleum, Gakosso rekindled the eternal flame
Eternal flame
An eternal flame is a flame or torch that burns day and night for an indefinite period. The flame that burned constantly at Delphi was an archaic feature, "alien to the ordinary Greek temple"....
commemorating President Marien Ngouabi
Marien Ngouabi
Marien Ngouabi was the military President of the Republic of the Congo from January 1, 1969 to March 18, 1977.-Origins:...
on 11 November 2002. The flame had been extinguished since the 1997 war. Speaking on the occasion, Gakosso said that he had prioritized the restoration of the flame when he took over as Minister of Culture because "it symbolizes the pain, resistance, self-sacrifice, and courage embodied by President Marien Ngouabi."
While serving as Minister of Culture, he also served for a time as Interim Minister of Communication, in charge of Relations with Parliament, as well as Government Spokesman. His portfolio was reduced in scope on 3 March 2007, when he was appointed as Minister of Arts and Culture. At the time of the fifth Panafrican Music Festival in Brazzaville in July 2005, Gakosso was President of the Festival's Steering Committee.
In the June 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...
, Gakosso stood as the Congolese Labour Party (PCT) candidate in the Ongogni constituency of Plateaux Region. He replaced Pierre Ngollo as the PCT candidate; although there were rumors of rivalry between the two, Gakosso and Ngollo appeared together when Gakosso announced his candidacy, and Ngollo instead stood as the PCT candidate in the Ouenzé I constituency of Brazzaville. Gakosso won his seat in the first round with 99.72% of the vote. Following the election, he retained his post as Minister of Arts and Culture in the government appointed on 30 December 2007.
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...
, Gakosso was Rapporteur
Rapporteur
Rapporteur is used in international and European legal and political contexts to refer to a person appointed by a deliberative body to investigate an issue or a situation....
of the National Initiative for Peace (INP), a political association promoting Sassou Nguesso's re-election while stressing the importance of peace.