Justin Koumba
Encyclopedia
Justin Koumba is a Congolese
politician who has been President of the National Assembly of Congo-Brazzaville since September 2007. A former United Nations
official, he served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of National Education in 1992; subsequently, he was President of the National Transitional Council from 1998 to 2002 and President of the National Human Rights Commission from 2003 to 2007.
. He worked as an official at the United Nations beginning in 1976. During the transition to multiparty elections from 1991 to 1992, he served in the transitional government headed by Prime Minister Andre Milongo
as Minister of National Education. Subsequently he returned to the UN and became UNESCO
's representative for Central Africa and the Great Lakes
countries.
Following President Denis Sassou Nguesso
's return to power in the June–October 1997 civil war, Koumba became President of the National Transitional Council (CNT), the provisional parliament, on 14 January 1998; he served in that position until 9 August 2002, at which point the CNT was replaced by a newly elected National Assembly.
Speaking on Radio France Internationale
in May 2000, Koumba alleged that former Prime Minister Bernard Kolelas
, a political enemy of Sassou Nguesso who was living in exile, was a murderer. He also claimed that Kolelas had prisons built at his home and asserted that he had proof of these crimes. Kolelas denied Koumba's accusations.
Koumba was the President of the Alliance for Congo (l'Alliance pour le Congo, APC), which was established in 2001 and supported Sassou Nguesso. Prior to this, he was never a member of any political party. Koumba was elected to the National Assembly in the May–June 2002 parliamentary election
; he was the APC candidate for Banda constituency in Niari Region
, and he won the seat in the first round with 58.70% of the vote. He did not attend the first meeting of the National Assembly, at which Jean-Pierre Thystère-Tchikaya was elected as President of the National Assembly, on 10 August 2002.
A year later, on 13 August 2003, he was one of 45 members of the National Human Rights Commission appointed by Sassou Nguesso, and on 2 September 2003, he was elected by the Commission as its President.
On 26 May 2007, the APC announced its merger with Sassou Nguesso's Congolese Labour Party (PCT). After resigning from his post as President of the National Human Rights Commission, Koumba stood in the 2007 parliamentary election
as a PCT candidate and was re-elected to the National Assembly from Banda constituency. After winning 36.70% of the vote in the first round, he faced Action Movement for Renewal
candidate Jean-Claude Moussavou in the second round and won the seat. At the opening session of the new National Assembly on 4 September 2007, he was elected as the President of the National Assembly. He was the only candidate and received 121 votes from the 129 deputies participating in the vote.
As Congo-Brazzaville marked its 50th year of independence in 2010, Koumba said at the opening of the National Assembly's ninth ordinary session in mid-2010 that "after half a century of political sovereignty, we must now achieve economic sovereignty."
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 who has been President of the National Assembly of Congo-Brazzaville since September 2007. A former United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
official, he served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of National Education in 1992; subsequently, he was President of the National Transitional Council from 1998 to 2002 and President of the National Human Rights Commission from 2003 to 2007.
Political career
Koumba was born in Gango in Kibangou DistrictKibangou District
Kibangou is a district in the Niari Region of south-western Republic of the Congo. The capital lies at Kibangou.-Towns and villages:...
. He worked as an official at the United Nations beginning in 1976. During the transition to multiparty elections from 1991 to 1992, he served in the transitional government headed by Prime Minister Andre Milongo
André Milongo
André Ntsatouabantou Milongo was a Congolese politician who served as Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo from June 1991 to August 1992. He was chosen by the 1991 National Conference to lead the country during its transition to multiparty elections, which were held in 1992...
as Minister of National Education. Subsequently he returned to the UN and became UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
's representative for Central Africa and the Great Lakes
African Great Lakes
The African Great Lakes are a series of lakes and the Rift Valley lakes in and around the geographic Great Rift Valley formed by the action of the tectonic East African Rift on the continent of Africa...
countries.
Following 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 return to power in the June–October 1997 civil war, Koumba became President of the National Transitional Council (CNT), the provisional parliament, on 14 January 1998; he served in that position until 9 August 2002, at which point the CNT was replaced by a newly elected National Assembly.
Speaking on Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale was created in 1975 as part of Radio France by the Government of France, and replaced the Poste Colonial , Paris Mondial , Radio Paris , RTF Radio Paris and ORTF Radio Paris...
in May 2000, Koumba alleged that former Prime Minister Bernard Kolelas
Bernard Kolélas
Bernard Bakana Kolélas was a Congolese politician and President of the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development...
, a political enemy of Sassou Nguesso who was living in exile, was a murderer. He also claimed that Kolelas had prisons built at his home and asserted that he had proof of these crimes. Kolelas denied Koumba's accusations.
Koumba was the President of the Alliance for Congo (l'Alliance pour le Congo, APC), which was established in 2001 and supported Sassou Nguesso. Prior to this, he was never a member of any political party. Koumba was elected to the National Assembly in the May–June 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 the APC candidate for Banda constituency in Niari Region
Niari Region
Niari is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the western part of the country. It borders the departments of Bouenza, Kouilou, and Lékoumou, and internationally, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Cabinda portion of Angola. The regional capital is Dolisie.Niari is divided...
, and he won the seat in the first round with 58.70% of the vote. He did not attend the first meeting of the National Assembly, at which Jean-Pierre Thystère-Tchikaya was elected as President of the National Assembly, on 10 August 2002.
A year later, on 13 August 2003, he was one of 45 members of the National Human Rights Commission appointed by Sassou Nguesso, and on 2 September 2003, he was elected by the Commission as its President.
On 26 May 2007, the APC announced its merger with Sassou Nguesso's Congolese Labour Party (PCT). After resigning from his post as President of the National Human Rights Commission, Koumba stood 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...
as a PCT candidate and was re-elected to the National Assembly from Banda constituency. After winning 36.70% of the vote in the first round, he faced Action Movement for Renewal
Action Movement for Renewal
The Action Movement for Renewal is a political party in the Republic of the Congo. Its founder was Jean-Baptiste Tati Loutard, who was President of the MAR until his death in 2009 and also served in the government as Minister of State for Hydrocarbons...
candidate Jean-Claude Moussavou in the second round and won the seat. At the opening session of the new National Assembly on 4 September 2007, he was elected as the President of the National Assembly. He was the only candidate and received 121 votes from the 129 deputies participating in the vote.
As Congo-Brazzaville marked its 50th year of independence in 2010, Koumba said at the opening of the National Assembly's ninth ordinary session in mid-2010 that "after half a century of political sovereignty, we must now achieve economic sovereignty."
External links
- Interview with Koumba, Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, 6 August 2002 .