Mamadou Kamara Dékamo
Encyclopedia
Mamadou Kamara Dékamo is a Congolese
political figure and diplomat. He has been Congo-Brazzaville's Ambassador to Italy
since 2000 and was previously Minister of Health and Population in the government of Congo-Brazzaville from 1997 to 1999.
as a PCT candidate from the Poto-Poto
section of Brazzaville
in the 1992 parliamentary election
. On 25 December 1992, he was appointed as Minister of Communication, Posts, and Telecommunications, as well as Government Spokesman, in the power-sharing government of Prime Minister Claude Antoine Dacosta, which was to serve until a new election was held. In the May–June 1993 parliamentary election
, Kamara Dékamo was re-elected to the National Assembly from Poto-Poto. Amidst the period of violence that followed the election, he condemned the Presidential Tendency (composed of supporters of President Pascal Lissouba
) for, in his view, seeking to "install a dictatorship".
Following the June–October 1997 civil war, in which Lissouba was ousted and Denis Sassou Nguesso
returned to power, Kamara Dékamo was appointed as Minister of Health and Population on 2 November 1997. He held that post for a little over a year before being replaced in the government appointed on 12 January 1999. He was subsequently appointed as Ambassador to Italy and has held that post since 21 February 2000; concurrently, he has served as Permanent Representative to the United Nations
organizations based in Rome
: the Food and Agriculture Organization
(since 15 March 2000), the International Fund for Agricultural Development
, and the World Food Programme
.
Kamara Dékamo has been involved in a political dispute with some leading figures in the PCT, including Ambroise Noumazalaye
(who was Secretary-General of the PCT until his death in November 2007) as well as Henri Djombo
and Gilbert Djombo-Bomondjo, who supported Noumazalaye. In November 2007, Henri Djombo, the Minister of Forest Economics, published an open letter addressed to the people of Likouala Region
, in which he alleged that, beginning in 2005, Kamara Dékamo had "deserted his post as ambassador to lead political campaigns in Brazzaville and Likouala". Djombo accused Kamara Dékamo and others from Likouala of slander and said that they were involved in an assassination plot that targeted Djombo.
By 2009, Kamara Dékamo was the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in Italy. When Teodoro Obiang Nguema, the President of Equatorial Guinea
, visited Rome in November–December 2010, Kamara Dékamo led the African diplomatic corps in greeting Obiang and offered warm praise. He also condemned those who had criticized Obiang's offer of money to UNESCO
to establish a prize for science.
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...
political figure and diplomat. He has been Congo-Brazzaville's Ambassador to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
since 2000 and was previously Minister of Health and Population in the government of Congo-Brazzaville from 1997 to 1999.
Political career
Kamara Dékamo was born in Ngondzia, located in the north of Congo-Brazzaville. After working at the Ministry of Planning, he was Director of Studies and Planning at the Ministry of Territorial Administration from 1976 to 1978, then Director-General of Youth from 1979 to 1984 and Director-General of SEP Development from 1984 to 1992. He became a member of the Political Bureau of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT) in 1992, and he was elected to the National AssemblyNational 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:...
as a PCT candidate from the Poto-Poto
Poto-Poto
Poto-Poto is the name of one of the original residential neighborhoods of the city of Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo.-History:...
section of 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...
in the 1992 parliamentary election
Republic of the Congo parliamentary election, 1992
Parliamentary elections were held in the Republic of the Congo in 1992, along with a presidential election, marking the end of the transition to multiparty politics. The election was held in two rounds, the first on 24 June 1992 and the second on 19 July 1992...
. On 25 December 1992, he was appointed as Minister of Communication, Posts, and Telecommunications, as well as Government Spokesman, in the power-sharing government of Prime Minister Claude Antoine Dacosta, which was to serve until a new election was held. In the May–June 1993 parliamentary election
Republic of the Congo parliamentary election, 1993
Parliamentary elections were held in the Republic of the Congo on 2 May 1993, with a second round in several constituencies on 6 June. The result was a victory for the Presidential Tendency coalition, which won 65 of the 125 seats in the National Assembly....
, Kamara Dékamo was re-elected to the National Assembly from Poto-Poto. Amidst the period of violence that followed the election, he condemned the Presidential Tendency (composed of supporters of President Pascal Lissouba
Pascal Lissouba
Pascal Lissouba was the first democratically elected President of the Republic of the Congo from August 31, 1992 to October 15, 1997. He was overthrown by the current President Denis Sassou Nguesso in the 1997 civil war....
) for, in his view, seeking to "install a dictatorship".
Following the June–October 1997 civil war, in which Lissouba was ousted and 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...
returned to power, Kamara Dékamo was appointed as Minister of Health and Population on 2 November 1997. He held that post for a little over a year before being replaced in the government appointed on 12 January 1999. He was subsequently appointed as Ambassador to Italy and has held that post since 21 February 2000; concurrently, he has served as Permanent Representative to the 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...
organizations based in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
: the Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
(since 15 March 2000), the International Fund for Agricultural Development
International Fund for Agricultural Development
The International Fund for Agricultural Development , a specialized agency of the United Nations, was established as an international financial institution in 1977 as one of the major outcomes of the 1974 World Food Conference. IFAD is dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries...
, and the World Food Programme
World Food Programme
The World Food Programme is the food aid branch of the United Nations, and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger worldwide. WFP provides food, on average, to 90 million people per year, 58 million of whom are children...
.
Kamara Dékamo has been involved in a political dispute with some leading figures in the PCT, including Ambroise Noumazalaye
Ambroise Noumazalaye
Ambroise Édouard Noumazalaye was a Congolese politician who was Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo from 1966 to 1968, under President Alphonse Massamba-Débat. Later in life he served as Secretary-General of the Congolese Labour Party and was a supporter of President Denis Sassou Nguesso...
(who was Secretary-General of the PCT until his death in November 2007) as well as Henri Djombo
Henri Djombo
Henri Djombo is a Congolese politician. He has served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of the Forest Economy since 1997 and is a member of the Congolese Labour Party .-Early life and political career:...
and Gilbert Djombo-Bomondjo, who supported Noumazalaye. In November 2007, Henri Djombo, the Minister of Forest Economics, published an open letter addressed to the people of Likouala Region
Likouala Region
Likouala is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the northern part of the country. It borders the departments of Cuvette and Sangha, and internationally, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. The region has an area of 66,044 km² and an estimated...
, in which he alleged that, beginning in 2005, Kamara Dékamo had "deserted his post as ambassador to lead political campaigns in Brazzaville and Likouala". Djombo accused Kamara Dékamo and others from Likouala of slander and said that they were involved in an assassination plot that targeted Djombo.
By 2009, Kamara Dékamo was the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in Italy. When Teodoro Obiang Nguema, the President of Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
, visited Rome in November–December 2010, Kamara Dékamo led the African diplomatic corps in greeting Obiang and offered warm praise. He also condemned those who had criticized Obiang's offer of money to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
to establish a prize for science.