Paul Boundoukou-Latha

Paul Boundoukou-Latha (1952[1] – 7 June 2020[2]) was a Gabonese politician and diplomat. He was Gabon's Ambassador to Morocco from 1989 to 1993, Ambassador to the United States and Mexico from 1993 to 2001, and Ambassador to Germany from 2001 to 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 was appointed as Minister-Delegate under the Minister of Foreign Affairs in January 2011. In June 2013, he was appointed as Chairman of the Gabonese Housing Bank.

Paul Bunduku-Latha in 2010.

Diplomatic career

Following political studies in France at the University of Poitiers, Boundoukou-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.[1]

Boundoukou-Latha was appointed as Gabonese Ambassador to the United States on 23 June 1993 and presented his credentials on 3 September 1993;[3] he served concurrently as Ambassador to Mexico.[1] Later, in December 2000, he was instead appointed as Ambassador to Germany; that was considered something of a demotion.[4] He was recalled from Germany and replaced by Jean-Claude Bouyobart in May 2006.[5]

Political career

Boundoukou-Latha joined the Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development (UGDD), an opposition party founded by Zacharie Myboto in 2005, and held the post of UGDD Political Adviser.[6] Myboto and Boundoukou-Latha are brothers.[4] Later, Boundoukou-Latha accepted an appointment to the government, along with UGDD Secretary-General Sylvestre Ratanga, 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. He and Ratanga accepted their appointments without the approval of the UGDD, and they were immediately expelled from the party on 15 January.[7] Deriding the appointments, the UGDD expressed doubt that Koko would give Boundoukou-Latha any meaningful responsibility.[6]

On 25 July 2009, following the death of President Omar Bongo in June 2009, Boundoukou-Latha announced his support for the candidate of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), Ali Bongo, in the 30 August 2009 presidential election.[8] 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.[9] He also was elected President of the ACP council of ministers as Minister-Delegate under the Minister of the Economy, Trade, Industry and Tourism.

Boundoukou-Latha joined the PDG on 6 March 2010.[10]

References
  1. "Biographical page". Archived from the original on April 27, 2001. Retrieved 2009-08-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) at Washington Diplomat website.
  2. "Gabon: décès de l'ancien ministre Paul Bunduku-Latha" (in French). gabonmediatime.com. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  3. List of Gabonese ambassadors to the US, US State Department website.
  4. "La chute de la maison Myboto", La Lettre du Continent, number 368, Africa Intelligence, 18 January 2001 (in French).
  5. "Conseil des ministres du jeudi 18 mai 2006: Communiqué final", L'Union, 19 May 2006 (in French).
  6. "Remaniement du Gouvernement : à quand le changement ?", UGDD website, 16 January 2009 (in French).
  7. "Gabon : L’UGDD répudie ses deux membres promus au gouvernement", GabonEco, 16 January 2009 (in French).
  8. "Gabon: Paul Bunduku Latha apporte son soutien au candidat du PDG à la présidentielle du 30 août prochain" Archived 2009-07-27 at the Wayback Machine, Gabonews, 25 July 2009 (in French).
  9. "Gabon: Liste complète du nouveau gouvernement gabonais", Gabonews, 17 October 2009 (in French).
  10. "Politique : Le ministre Mouloungui rejoint les rangs du PDG" Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine, AGP, 8 March 2010 (in French).
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