Mamadou Koulibaly
Encyclopedia
Mamadou Koulibaly is an Ivorian
politician who has been President of the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire
since January 2001. Previously he was Minister of the Budget in 2000 and Minister of the Economy and Finance from 2000 to 2001. For years he was leading member of the Ivorian Popular Front
(FPI), briefly leading the party in an interim capacity in 2011 before quitting it.
and a native of the north of Côte d'Ivoire, Koulibaly was born at Azaguie-Gare and studied economics, becoming an economist and economics professor. Under the transitional military regime of Robert Guéï
, Koulibaly served in the government as Minister of the Budget from 15 January 2000 to 18 May 2000, then as Minister of the Economy and Finances from 18 May 2000 to 25 October 2000. When Guéï was ousted following the disputed results of the October 2000 presidential election
and FPI leader Laurent Gbagbo
was sworn in as President, Koulibaly retained his post as Minister of the Economy and Finances, while gaining the role of Government Spokesman. He remained in those posts until 15 January 2001.
Koulibaly stood as an FPI candidate in the December 2000 parliamentary election
and was elected to the National Assembly from Koumassi
constituency. He was then elected as President of the National Assembly on 22 January 2001 without opposition. Another FPI deputy, Emile Boga Doudou
, was also a candidate, but withdrew prior to the vote. The opposition Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI) supported Koulibaly's candidacy as a gesture of cooperation.
In the aftermath of the 2002–2003 civil war, in which rebels failed to unseat Gbagbo but seized control of the north of the country, Koulibaly was noted as one of the main hard-line FPI figures surrounding Gbagbo who were hostile to the Marcoussis peace accord and despised opposition leader Alassane Ouattara
. He was closely associated with Simone Gbagbo
, who was Gbagbo's wife as well as President of the FPI Parliamentary Group. Alleged coup plotters led by Ibrahim Coulibaly
were said to have conspired to kill Koulibaly along with President Gbagbo and Gbagbo's wife before being thwarted in August 2003.
After President Gbagbo extended National Assembly's parliamentary mandate in January 2005, contrary to the wishes of United Nations
mediators, Koulibaly strongly criticized the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire
(UNOCI) in an interview with the newspaper Le Courrier that was published on 1 February 2006. According to Koulibaly, UNOCI had ceased to play a positive role in the resolving the Ivorian conflict and was only exacerbating the situation.
In June 2010, Koulibaly accused Désiré Tagro
—the Minister of the Interior and another top ally of Gbagbo—of embezzling money and showing regional favoritism regarding admissions to a training school for the police. Gbagbo ordered an investigation into the allegations; in July 2010, the investigation judged that the allegations were without merit, and Tagro, who continued to enjoy Gbagbo's favor, was ultimately unscathed by the episode.
Following the second round of the October–November 2010 presidential election, both Gbagbo and Ouattara claimed victory. Although his claim to victory was rejected by regional and international institutions, Gbagbo was promptly sworn in for a new term on 4 December 2010. Koulibaly was notably absent from the hastily arranged swearing-in ceremony, raising some eyebrows. In an interview a few days later, Koulibaly explained that he had been out of the country at the time. Regarding the severe political controversy that had erupted between Gbagbo and Ouattara, Koulibaly urged calm and stressed that the dispute should be peacefully resolved through the creation of a national unity government
. He said that was the method settled upon for the resolution of post-election disputes in Africa and he said that it should be done quickly.
Koulibaly attempted to resolve the situation through dialogue and met with Ouattara, but his efforts came to nothing. Although known as a long-time Gbagbo loyalist, he did not actively take sides in the conflict. As the political dispute turned violent and the two sides battled in Abidjan in March–April 2011, Koulibaly went to neighboring Ghana
. After Ouattara's forces captured Gbagbo and effectively took control of Abidjan on 11 April, Koulibaly returned to Abidjan on 19 April 2011. He met with Ouattara on 20 April and discussed the situation, especially the need to constitutionally normalize it by formally swearing in Ouattara as President and putting Ouattara's orders through the National Assembly. Ouattara appeared willing to leave the existing National Assembly, dominated by the FPI and chaired by Koulibaly, in place for the time being. Koulibaly also complained that his homes had been looted, his family had been threatened, and the National Assembly's offices had been damaged. He stressed reconciliation and expressed concern regarding persecution of FPI members and attacks on members of Gbagbo's Bété ethnic group
.
FPI President Pascal Affi N'Guessan was arrested soon after Gbagbo's capture, and consequently Koulibaly took over the party leadership as Acting President. Responding to Ouattara's stated willingness to include moderate Gbagbo supporters in a national unity government
, Koulibaly said on 25 May 2011 that the FPI would consider such participation only if Gbagbo and others who supported him were released.
Koulibaly finally resigned on 12 July 2011 over the unwillingness of hardline members of the FPI to accept Ouattara's victory and take steps to form a credible political opposition party.
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
politician who has been President of the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire
National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire
The National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire is Côte d'Ivoire's unicameral legislative body. Evolved from semi-representative bodies of the French Colonial period, the first National Assembly was constituted on 27 November 1960 with 70 elected member in accordance with the Constitution of 31 October...
since January 2001. Previously he was Minister of the Budget in 2000 and Minister of the Economy and Finance from 2000 to 2001. For years he was leading member of the Ivorian Popular Front
Ivorian Popular Front
The Ivorian Popular Front , known by its French initials FPI, is a centre-left, democratic socialist and social democratic, political party in Côte d'Ivoire....
(FPI), briefly leading the party in an interim capacity in 2011 before quitting it.
Political career
A MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
and a native of the north of Côte d'Ivoire, Koulibaly was born at Azaguie-Gare and studied economics, becoming an economist and economics professor. Under the transitional military regime of Robert Guéï
Robert Guéï
Robert Guéï was the military ruler of the Côte d'Ivoire from December 24, 1999 to October 26, 2000.Guéï was born in Kabakouma, a village in the western Man region, and was a member of the Yakouba tribe. He was a career soldier: under the French administration, he was trained at the Ouagadougou...
, Koulibaly served in the government as Minister of the Budget from 15 January 2000 to 18 May 2000, then as Minister of the Economy and Finances from 18 May 2000 to 25 October 2000. When Guéï was ousted following the disputed results of the October 2000 presidential election
Ivorian presidential election, 2000
A presidential election was held in Côte d'Ivoire on 22 October 2000. Robert Guéï, who headed a transitional military regime following the December 1999 coup d'état, stood as a candidate in the election. All of the major opposition candidates except for Laurent Gbagbo of the Ivorian Popular Front ...
and FPI leader Laurent Gbagbo
Laurent Gbagbo
Laurent Koudou Gbagbo served as the fourth President of Côte d'Ivoire from 2000 until his arrest in April 2011. A historian by profession, he is also an amateur chemist and physicist....
was sworn in as President, Koulibaly retained his post as Minister of the Economy and Finances, while gaining the role of Government Spokesman. He remained in those posts until 15 January 2001.
Koulibaly stood as an FPI candidate in the December 2000 parliamentary election
Ivorian parliamentary election, 2000–2001
Parliamentary elections were held in Ivory Coast on 10 December 2000. In 28 seats in the north of the country voting was postponed due to unrest relating to the boycott by the Rally of the Republicans...
and was elected to the National Assembly from Koumassi
Koumassi
Koumassi is a town and commune in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.It is one of four communes of Abidjan south of Ébrié Lagoon, the others being Treichville, Marcory and Port-Bouët.-References:*This article was initially created from the French Wikipedia....
constituency. He was then elected as President of the National Assembly on 22 January 2001 without opposition. Another FPI deputy, Emile Boga Doudou
Émile Boga Doudou
Émile Boga Doudou was an Ivorian politician who served as Minister of State for the Interior and Decentralization from 2000 to 2002. He was killed in the failed coup attempt that marked the start of the Ivorian Civil War....
, was also a candidate, but withdrew prior to the vote. The opposition Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI) supported Koulibaly's candidacy as a gesture of cooperation.
In the aftermath of the 2002–2003 civil war, in which rebels failed to unseat Gbagbo but seized control of the north of the country, Koulibaly was noted as one of the main hard-line FPI figures surrounding Gbagbo who were hostile to the Marcoussis peace accord and despised opposition leader Alassane Ouattara
Alassane Ouattara
Alassane Dramane Ouattara is an Ivorian politician who has been President of Côte d'Ivoire since 2011. An economist by profession, Ouattara worked for the International Monetary Fund and the Central Bank of West African States , and he was the Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire from November 1990 to...
. He was closely associated with Simone Gbagbo
Simone Gbagbo
Simone Ehivet Gbagbo is an Ivorian politician. She is the President of the Parliamentary Group of the Ivorian Popular Front and is a Vice-President of the FPI...
, who was Gbagbo's wife as well as President of the FPI Parliamentary Group. Alleged coup plotters led by Ibrahim Coulibaly
Ibrahim Coulibaly
Ibrahim Coulibaly was a military and rebel leader in Côte d'Ivoire. A Staff Sargent in the Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire, Coulibaly had served since at least the early 1990s. As Côte d'Ivoire slid into communal conflict, Coulibaly joined the 1999 coup led by Robert Guéï...
were said to have conspired to kill Koulibaly along with President Gbagbo and Gbagbo's wife before being thwarted in August 2003.
After President Gbagbo extended National Assembly's parliamentary mandate in January 2005, contrary to the wishes of 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...
mediators, Koulibaly strongly criticized the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire
United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire
The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire is a peacekeeping mission whose objective is "to facilitate the implementation by the Ivorian parties of the peace agreement signed by them in January 2003"...
(UNOCI) in an interview with the newspaper Le Courrier that was published on 1 February 2006. According to Koulibaly, UNOCI had ceased to play a positive role in the resolving the Ivorian conflict and was only exacerbating the situation.
In June 2010, Koulibaly accused Désiré Tagro
Désiré Tagro
Désiré Asségnini Tagro was an Ivorian politician who served as the Minister of the Interior and chief of staff for former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo during the 2010–2011 Ivorian crisis...
—the Minister of the Interior and another top ally of Gbagbo—of embezzling money and showing regional favoritism regarding admissions to a training school for the police. Gbagbo ordered an investigation into the allegations; in July 2010, the investigation judged that the allegations were without merit, and Tagro, who continued to enjoy Gbagbo's favor, was ultimately unscathed by the episode.
Following the second round of the October–November 2010 presidential election, both Gbagbo and Ouattara claimed victory. Although his claim to victory was rejected by regional and international institutions, Gbagbo was promptly sworn in for a new term on 4 December 2010. Koulibaly was notably absent from the hastily arranged swearing-in ceremony, raising some eyebrows. In an interview a few days later, Koulibaly explained that he had been out of the country at the time. Regarding the severe political controversy that had erupted between Gbagbo and Ouattara, Koulibaly urged calm and stressed that the dispute should be peacefully resolved through the creation of a national unity government
National unity government
A national unity government, government of national unity, or national union government is a broad coalition government consisting of all parties in the legislature, usually formed during a time of war or other national emergency.- Canada :During World War I the Conservative government of Sir...
. He said that was the method settled upon for the resolution of post-election disputes in Africa and he said that it should be done quickly.
Koulibaly attempted to resolve the situation through dialogue and met with Ouattara, but his efforts came to nothing. Although known as a long-time Gbagbo loyalist, he did not actively take sides in the conflict. As the political dispute turned violent and the two sides battled in Abidjan in March–April 2011, Koulibaly went to neighboring Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. After Ouattara's forces captured Gbagbo and effectively took control of Abidjan on 11 April, Koulibaly returned to Abidjan on 19 April 2011. He met with Ouattara on 20 April and discussed the situation, especially the need to constitutionally normalize it by formally swearing in Ouattara as President and putting Ouattara's orders through the National Assembly. Ouattara appeared willing to leave the existing National Assembly, dominated by the FPI and chaired by Koulibaly, in place for the time being. Koulibaly also complained that his homes had been looted, his family had been threatened, and the National Assembly's offices had been damaged. He stressed reconciliation and expressed concern regarding persecution of FPI members and attacks on members of Gbagbo's Bété ethnic group
Bété people
The Bete are a little-studied Ivory Coast group with strong cultural and artistic links to the Dan, the We and the Guro, among others. There are 93 distinct groups within the Bete polity. They are united only in that they subsistence farm to survive, but base most of their social and cultural...
.
FPI President Pascal Affi N'Guessan was arrested soon after Gbagbo's capture, and consequently Koulibaly took over the party leadership as Acting President. Responding to Ouattara's stated willingness to include moderate Gbagbo supporters in a national unity government
National unity government
A national unity government, government of national unity, or national union government is a broad coalition government consisting of all parties in the legislature, usually formed during a time of war or other national emergency.- Canada :During World War I the Conservative government of Sir...
, Koulibaly said on 25 May 2011 that the FPI would consider such participation only if Gbagbo and others who supported him were released.
Koulibaly finally resigned on 12 July 2011 over the unwillingness of hardline members of the FPI to accept Ouattara's victory and take steps to form a credible political opposition party.