Roland Kpotsra
Encyclopedia
Yao Roland Kpotsra is a Togo
lese diplomat and politician. He was Togo's Permanent Representative to the United Nations
from 1996 to 2002 and again from 2007 to 2009; he was also Foreign Minister
from 2002 to 2003.
. He began working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1974 at its Administrative Affairs Division. From September 1976 to February 1979, he was Secretary at Togo's Permanent Mission to the United Nations; he was then Counsellor at the Permanent Mission from February 1979 to April 1980 and Chargé d'affaires
at the Permanent Mission from April 1980 to August 1980. He was First Counsellor at the Togolese Embassy to Brazil
from September 1980 to May 1982.
At the Foreign Ministry, Kpotsra was Director of the Treaties and Legal Affairs Division from July 23, 1982 to January 5, 1988, as well as Director of Administration and Personnel from October 9, 1987 to August 1990. From 8 September 1990 to 30 June 1991, he was Chargé d'affaires in Zimbabwe
; he was then Chargé de mission of the Foreign Ministry from September 1992 to March 23, 1993. From March 1993 to 1996, he was Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry. During this time, he headed the Togolese delegation to the Twelfth Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement
on April 25–27, 1995 in Bandung
, Indonesia
, as well as the Togolese delegation to the sixty-third regular session of the Organization of African Unity's Council of Ministers, held on February 26–28, 1996 in Addis Ababa
.
Kpotsra was appointed as Permanent Representative to the UN for the first time in 1996, presenting his credentials on December 11, 1996; he remained Permanent Representative until December 2002. Kpotsra was named Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation on December 3, 2002, serving in that position until he was appointed as Minister of the Promotion of Democracy and the Rule of Law in the government named on July 29, 2003. He remained in the latter position until he was dismissed from the government that was named on June 20, 2005. President Faure Gnassingbé
then appointed Kpotsra as Diplomatic Adviser at the Presidency of the Republic on July 26, 2005. He held that post until 2007, when he was appointed as Togo's Permanent Representative to the UN again; he presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
on October 1, 2007.
Kpotsra was recalled to Lomé in early 2009, and Kodjo Menan was appointed to replace him on 3 April 2009.
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
lese diplomat and politician. He was Togo's 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...
from 1996 to 2002 and again from 2007 to 2009; he was also 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...
from 2002 to 2003.
Diplomatic and political career
Kpotsra was born in LoméLomé
Lomé, with an estimated population of 737,751, is the capital and largest city of Togo. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, Lomé is the country's administrative and industrial center and its chief port. The city exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels...
. He began working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1974 at its Administrative Affairs Division. From September 1976 to February 1979, he was Secretary at Togo's Permanent Mission to the United Nations; he was then Counsellor at the Permanent Mission from February 1979 to April 1980 and Chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
at the Permanent Mission from April 1980 to August 1980. He was First Counsellor at the Togolese Embassy to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
from September 1980 to May 1982.
At the Foreign Ministry, Kpotsra was Director of the Treaties and Legal Affairs Division from July 23, 1982 to January 5, 1988, as well as Director of Administration and Personnel from October 9, 1987 to August 1990. From 8 September 1990 to 30 June 1991, he was Chargé d'affaires in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
; he was then Chargé de mission of the Foreign Ministry from September 1992 to March 23, 1993. From March 1993 to 1996, he was Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry. During this time, he headed the Togolese delegation to the Twelfth Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement
Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
on April 25–27, 1995 in Bandung
Bandung
Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, as well as the Togolese delegation to the sixty-third regular session of the Organization of African Unity's Council of Ministers, held on February 26–28, 1996 in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
.
Kpotsra was appointed as Permanent Representative to the UN for the first time in 1996, presenting his credentials on December 11, 1996; he remained Permanent Representative until December 2002. Kpotsra was named Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation on December 3, 2002, serving in that position until he was appointed as Minister of the Promotion of Democracy and the Rule of Law in the government named on July 29, 2003. He remained in the latter position until he was dismissed from the government that was named on June 20, 2005. President Faure Gnassingbé
Faure Gnassingbé
Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé has been the President of Togo since May 4, 2005. A son of President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, he was appointed to the government by his father, serving as Minister of Equipment, Mines, Posts, and Telecommunications from 2003 to 2005...
then appointed Kpotsra as Diplomatic Adviser at the Presidency of the Republic on July 26, 2005. He held that post until 2007, when he was appointed as Togo's Permanent Representative to the UN again; he presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
on October 1, 2007.
Kpotsra was recalled to Lomé in early 2009, and Kodjo Menan was appointed to replace him on 3 April 2009.