Jean Ping
Encyclopedia
Jean Ping is a Gabon
ese diplomat and politician who is currently the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union. He was previously the Foreign Minister
of Gabon from 1999 to 2008 and served as President of the United Nations General Assembly
from 2004 to 2005.
descent, and a Gabon
ese mother, Jean Ping was born in Omboué
, Etimbwé Department, Ogooué-Maritime Province
. In 1972, he began working at UNESCO
in its Sector for External Relations and Cooperation as an international civil servant. In 1978, he became advisor to the Gabonese embassy in France, and he subsequently became Gabon's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, in which position he served until 1984. He became Director of the Civil Cabinet of the President of Gabon, Omar Bongo
, in 1984, serving in that position until 1990.
He was elected to the National Assembly
from Omboué
in the December 1996 parliamentary election, the December 2001 parliamentary election
, and the December 2006 parliamentary election
.
He was chosen to be President
of the fifty-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly
in 2004.
Ping was one of President Bongo's closest and longest-serving ministers and is considered one of the most powerful figures in Gabon. Ping was one of the key figures who helped arrange the visit to Gabon in 2004 of Chinese President Hu Jintao
, who used the capital Libreville as the platform for making a land-mark speech promising a new era of engagement with Africa, "without political strings."
In the government named on 25 January 2007, Ping, previously a Minister of State, was promoted to the rank of Deputy Prime Minister while remaining in charge of foreign affairs.
On 7 December 2007, Gabon's Ambassador to Cameroon
, Michel Mandougoua, announced that Ping would seek to succeed Alpha Oumar Konaré
as chairman of the Commission of the African Union in early 2008. His candidacy was backed by the Economic Community of Central African States
.
Ping was elected as chairman of the Commission at an AU summit in Addis Ababa
, Ethiopia on 1 February 2008. He had been the frontrunner, enjoying the support of countries in Central, West, and East Africa. North African countries also ultimately backed him; Ali Triki
of Libya
was prevented from standing due to submitting his candidacy late. Southern African countries opposed Ping, however. In the election, he defeated Osman Abdulai Conteh of Sierra Leone
and Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika of Zambia
, winning 31 out of 46 votes and obtaining the necessary two-thirds majority in the first round. On 4 February, Bongo appointed Laure Olga Gondjout
to replace Ping as Foreign Minister.
Ping officially succeeded Konaré as chairman of the Commission on 28 April 2008.
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
ese diplomat and politician who is currently the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union. He was previously the Foreign Minister
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...
of Gabon from 1999 to 2008 and served as President of the United Nations General Assembly
President of the United Nations General Assembly
The President of the United Nations General Assembly is a position voted for by representatives in the United Nations General Assembly on a yearly basis.- Election :...
from 2004 to 2005.
Early life
The son of Chinese trader Cheng Zhiping ( Chéng Zhìpíng) of WenzhouWenzhou
Wenzhou is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. The area under its jurisdiction, which includes two satellite cities and six counties, had a population of 9,122,100 as of 2010....
descent, and a Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
ese mother, Jean Ping was born in Omboué
Omboué
-Notable people:*Jean Ping -politician...
, Etimbwé Department, Ogooué-Maritime Province
Ogooué-Maritime
Ogooué-Maritime is one of Gabon's nine provinces. It covers an area of 22,890 km². The provincial capital is Port-Gentil. It has an estimated population of 137,993....
. In 1972, he began working at UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in its Sector for External Relations and Cooperation as an international civil servant. In 1978, he became advisor to the Gabonese embassy in France, and he subsequently became Gabon's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, in which position he served until 1984. He became Director of the Civil Cabinet of the President of Gabon, Omar Bongo
Omar Bongo
El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba , born as Albert-Bernard Bongo, was a Gabonese politician who was President of Gabon for 42 years from 1967 until his death in office in 2009....
, in 1984, serving in that position until 1990.
Career
On 26 February 1990, Ping became Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications, Tourism and Recreation, and Reform of the Parastatal Sector, in charge of relations with Parliament, as well as Government Spokesman. He served in that position for two months before becoming Minister of Mines, Energy, and Hydraulic Resources on 29 April 1990. He remained in the latter position until June 1991, then served as Minister of Mines, Energy, and Hydraulic Resources for a second time from 28 August 1992 to 24 March 1994. He was then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and La Francophonie from 25 March 1994 to 29 October 1994, then Minister Delegate to the Minister of Finance, the Economy, the Budget, and Privatisation from 30 October 1994 until he was appointed as Minister of Planning, the Environment and Tourism on 28 January 1997. Two years later, he was promoted to the position of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, La Francophonie, and Regional Integration on 25 January 1999. He remained Foreign Minister for nine years.He was elected to the National Assembly
National Assembly of Gabon
The National Assembly of Gabon is the lower house of the Parliament of Gabon. It has 120 members, 111 members elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies and 9 members appointed by the President.-Latest results:...
from Omboué
Omboué
-Notable people:*Jean Ping -politician...
in the December 1996 parliamentary election, the December 2001 parliamentary election
Gabonese legislative election, 2001
Gabon held a parliamentary election on 9 December 2001.-Results:...
, and the December 2006 parliamentary election
Gabonese legislative election, 2006
A legislative election was held in Gabon on 17 December 2006 ....
.
He was chosen to be President
President of the United Nations General Assembly
The President of the United Nations General Assembly is a position voted for by representatives in the United Nations General Assembly on a yearly basis.- Election :...
of the fifty-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
in 2004.
Ping was one of President Bongo's closest and longest-serving ministers and is considered one of the most powerful figures in Gabon. Ping was one of the key figures who helped arrange the visit to Gabon in 2004 of Chinese President Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. He has held the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2002, President of the People's Republic of China since 2003, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2004, succeeding Jiang...
, who used the capital Libreville as the platform for making a land-mark speech promising a new era of engagement with Africa, "without political strings."
In the government named on 25 January 2007, Ping, previously a Minister of State, was promoted to the rank of Deputy Prime Minister while remaining in charge of foreign affairs.
On 7 December 2007, Gabon's Ambassador to Cameroon
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...
, Michel Mandougoua, announced that Ping would seek to succeed Alpha Oumar Konaré
Alpha Oumar Konaré
Alpha Oumar Konaré was the President of Mali for two five-year terms , and was Chairperson of the African Union Commission from 2003 to 2008.-Scholarly career:...
as chairman of the Commission of the African Union in early 2008. His candidacy was backed by the Economic Community of Central African States
Economic Community of Central African States
The Economic Community of Central African States is an Economic Community of the African Union for promotion of regional economic co-operation in Central Africa...
.
Ping was elected as chairman of the Commission at an AU summit in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, Ethiopia on 1 February 2008. He had been the frontrunner, enjoying the support of countries in Central, West, and East Africa. North African countries also ultimately backed him; Ali Triki
Ali Triki
Ali Abdussalam Treki was a Libyan diplomat in Muammar Gaddafi's regime. Treki served as one of Libya's top diplomats since the 1970s. He was Foreign Minister from 1976 to 1982 and again from 1984 to 1986, and he has been Permanent Representative to the United Nations on several occasions...
of Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
was prevented from standing due to submitting his candidacy late. Southern African countries opposed Ping, however. In the election, he defeated Osman Abdulai Conteh of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
and Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika of Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, winning 31 out of 46 votes and obtaining the necessary two-thirds majority in the first round. On 4 February, Bongo appointed Laure Olga Gondjout
Laure Olga Gondjout
Laure Olga Gondjout is a Gabonese politician. She has served in the government since 2006 and is currently the Minister of Communication, Posts, Telecommunications, and New Information Technologies....
to replace Ping as Foreign Minister.
Ping officially succeeded Konaré as chairman of the Commission on 28 April 2008.