Mahamat Kamoun

Mahamat Kamoun
Mahamat Kamoun in March 2016
Prime Minister of the Central African Republic
In office 10 August 2014 – 2 April 2016
President	Catherine Samba-Panza (Transitional) Faustin-Archange Touadéra
Preceded by	André Nzapayeké
Succeeded by	Simplice Sarandji
Personal details
Born	13 November 1961 N'Délé, Central African Republic
Political party	Independent
Alma mater	Boston University
Religion	Islam

Mahamat Kamoun (born 13 November 1961)^[1][2] is a Central African politician who was the Prime Minister of the Central African Republic, in an interim capacity, from 10 August 2014 to 2 April 2016. He was the country's first Muslim Prime Minister.^[3]

Political career

A specialist in finance, Kamoun served as the Director-General of the Treasury under President Francois Bozize.^[4] He subsequently served as the head of the cabinet of President Michel Djotodia and was an advisor to interim President Catherine Samba-Panza before his appointment as Prime Minister.^[3][5][6]

Prime Minister

Kamoun's appointment as Prime Minister sparked discontent and astonishment among the Muslim Séléka rebel group,^[3] as the group does not consider Kamoun as a member of Séléka, despite Kamoun being a Muslim.^[7] The group subsequently boycotted the National Unity Government as they were not consulted about the choice of Prime Minister,^[8] and even threatened to withdraw from the ceasefire agreement signed in Brazzaville in July 2014 as a result of Kamoun's appointment.^[7][8]

He oversaw the December 2015–February 2016 presidential election, saying "The warlords will have to accept the results of the elections because the elections are democratic, elections are one of the solutions to bring people back to peace, but they can also be a new source of crisis if we do not manage to make them democratic, transparent and credible."^[9] A month prior to the elections, Kamoun installed a night time curfew amid rising tensions and violence in the capital Bangui.^[10] Following the election, the newly elected President Faustin-Archange Touadéra named Simplice Sarandji as Kamoun's replacement as Prime Minister on 2 April 2016.^[11]

References

1. "CAR names new Prime Minister". APA. Africa: StarAfrica. 10 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
2. Duhem, Vincent (11 August 2014). "Centrafrique : cinq choses à savoir sur Mahamat Kamoun, le nouveau PM" (in French). Bangui, Central African Republic: Jeune Afrique. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
3. "Central African Republic crisis: Rebels reject new Muslim PM Kamoun". Central African Republic: BBC News. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
4. "Mahamat Kamoun named PM of Central African Republic". Bangui, Central African Republic: Oman Observer. 10 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
5. Caldwell, Mark; Chrispin Mwakideu (11 August 2014). "New CAR premier Kamoun: 'We must all work for peace'". Africa: DW. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
6. "Central African Republic names first Muslim prime minister". PressTV. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
7. "Seleka ex-rebels refuse to join new CAR government". AFP. The New Age. 11 August 2014. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
8. "CAR president appoints first Muslim PM". Africa: Al Jazeera. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
9. Benn, Margaux (30 December 2015). "Central African Republic Elections, Long Delayed, Are Peaceful". New York Times. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
10. Gondamoyen, Jean-Louis (28 September 2015). "Central African Republic's Capital Paralyzed as Unrest Kills 42". Bloomberg. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
11. "Centrafrique : Sarandji nommé Premier ministre". BBC News (in French). 2 April 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.