Paul Boundoukou-Latha
Encyclopedia
Paul Bunduku-Latha is a Gabon
ese politician, diplomat and author. He was Gabon's Ambassador to Morocco
(1989-1993),the United States
and Mexico
during the 1990s (1993-2001) and was later its Ambassador to Germany
(2001-2006). He was Minister-Delegate under the Deputy Prime Minister for the Environment from January 2009 to October 2009, Minister-Delegate under the Minister of the Economy, Trade, Industry, and Tourism from October 2009 to January 2011, and he has been Minister-Delegate under the Minister of Foreign Affairs since January 2011.
at the University of Poitiers
, Bunduku-Latha graduated in 1979. Back in Gabon, he was placed in charge of the Europe Studies Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1983, and he was Director of International Organizations and Multilateral Cooperation from 1984 to 1986. Later, he was Gabon's Ambassador to Morocco
from 1989 to 1993.
Bunduku-Latha was appointed as Ambassador to the United States
on 23 June 1993 and presented his credentials on 3 September 1993; he served concurrently as Ambassador to Mexico
. Later, in December 2000, he was instead appointed as Ambassador to Germany; that was considered something of a demotion. He was recalled from Germany and replaced by Jean-Claude Bouyobart in May 2006.
(UGDD), an opposition party founded by Zacharie Myboto
in 2005, and held the post of UGDD Political Adviser. Zacharie Myboto and Bunduku-Latha are brothers. Later, Bunduku-Latha accepted an appointment to the government on 14 January 2009; he was named Minister-Delegate under the Deputy Prime Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development, and the Protection of Nature, Georgette Koko
. Deriding the appointments, the UGDD expressed doubt that Koko would give Bunduku-Latha any meaningful responsibility.
On 25 July 2009, following the death of President Omar Bongo
in June 2009, Bunduku-Latha announced his support for the candidate of the Gabonese Democratic Party
(PDG), Ali Bongo, in the 30 August 2009 presidential election
. Bongo won the election, and after taking office as President he moved Boundoukou-Latha to the position of Minister-Delegate under the Minister of the Economy, Trade, Industry, and Tourism on 17 October 2009. He was one of two ministers-delegate assigned to that ministry, sharing the responsibility with Françoise Assengone Obame. He also was elected President of the ACP council of ministers as Minister-Delegate under the Minister of The Economy, Trade, Industry and Tourism.
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 politician, diplomat and author. He was Gabon's Ambassador to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
(1989-1993),the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
during the 1990s (1993-2001) and was later its Ambassador to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(2001-2006). He was Minister-Delegate under the Deputy Prime Minister for the Environment from January 2009 to October 2009, Minister-Delegate under the Minister of the Economy, Trade, Industry, and Tourism from October 2009 to January 2011, and he has been Minister-Delegate under the Minister of Foreign Affairs since January 2011.
Diplomatic career
Following political studies in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
at the University of Poitiers
University of Poitiers
The University of Poitiers is a university in Poitiers, France. It is a member of the Coimbra Group.-History:Founded in 1431 by Pope Eugene IV and chartered by King Charles VII, the University of Poitiers was originally composed of five faculties: theology, canon law, civil law, medicine, and...
, Bunduku-Latha graduated in 1979. Back in Gabon, he was placed in charge of the Europe Studies Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1983, and he was Director of International Organizations and Multilateral Cooperation from 1984 to 1986. Later, he was Gabon's Ambassador to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
from 1989 to 1993.
Bunduku-Latha was appointed as Ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on 23 June 1993 and presented his credentials on 3 September 1993; he served concurrently as Ambassador to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Later, in December 2000, he was instead appointed as Ambassador to Germany; that was considered something of a demotion. He was recalled from Germany and replaced by Jean-Claude Bouyobart in May 2006.
Political career
Bunduku-Latha joined the Gabonese Union for Democracy and DevelopmentGabonese Union for Democracy and Development
The Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development is an political party in Gabon...
(UGDD), an opposition party founded by Zacharie Myboto
Zacharie Myboto
Zacharie Myboto is a Gabonese politician and President of the National Union , an opposition party. He was the Administrative Secretary of the Gabonese Democratic Party from 1972 to 1990 and served in the government from 1978 to 2001...
in 2005, and held the post of UGDD Political Adviser. Zacharie Myboto and Bunduku-Latha are brothers. Later, Bunduku-Latha accepted an appointment to the government on 14 January 2009; he was named Minister-Delegate under the Deputy Prime Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development, and the Protection of Nature, Georgette Koko
Georgette Koko
Georgette Koko is a Gabonese politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister for the Environment from January 2006 to October 2009.Koko was born in Makokou, located in the Ogooué-Ivindo Province of Gabon...
. Deriding the appointments, the UGDD expressed doubt that Koko would give Bunduku-Latha any meaningful responsibility.
On 25 July 2009, following the death of President 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 June 2009, Bunduku-Latha announced his support for the candidate of the Gabonese Democratic Party
Gabonese Democratic Party
The Gabonese Democratic Party , is the ruling and dominant political party of Gabon. Its motto is Dialogue, Tolerance, Peace.It has held power since independence, first under Léon M'ba , then under Omar Bongo...
(PDG), Ali Bongo, in the 30 August 2009 presidential election
Gabonese presidential election, 2009
A presidential election was held in Gabon on 30 August 2009 after the incumbent President Omar Bongo Ondimba died on 8 June 2009. While the constitution stated that Interim President Rose Francine Rogombé should organise elections within 30 to 45 days, the Constitutional Court accepted the...
. Bongo won the election, and after taking office as President he moved Boundoukou-Latha to the position of Minister-Delegate under the Minister of the Economy, Trade, Industry, and Tourism on 17 October 2009. He was one of two ministers-delegate assigned to that ministry, sharing the responsibility with Françoise Assengone Obame. He also was elected President of the ACP council of ministers as Minister-Delegate under the Minister of The Economy, Trade, Industry and Tourism.