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Matata Ponyo Mapon

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In this Congolese name, the surname is Ponyo and the post-surname is Mapon.
Matata Ponyo Mapon
23rd Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In office
18 April 2012 – 17 November 2016
PresidentJoseph Kabila
Preceded byLouis Alphonse Koyagialo (Acting)
Succeeded bySamy Badibanga
Minister of Finance
In office
21 February 2010 – 12 April 2012
Prime MinisterAdolphe Muzito
Louis Alphonse Koyagialo (Acting)
Preceded byAtanase Matenda
Succeeded byPatrice Kitebi
Personal details
Born (1964-06-05) 5 June 1964 (age 60)
Maniema, Congo-Léopoldville
(now Congo-Kinshasa)
Alma materUniversity of Kinshasa

Matata Ponyo Mapon (born 5 June 1964)[1] is a Congolese political figure who was Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 18 April 2012 to 17 November 2016.[2] Previously he served as Minister of Finance from 21 February 2010 to 12 April 2012;[3][4][5] as Prime Minister, he retained responsibility for the finance portfolio. He currently serves as Senator for Maniema.[6][7]

Biography

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Early life and education

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Matata Ponyo Mapon began his studies at Mwanga primary school (formerly Saint-Gaston) in 1970 in Kindu. He obtained his primary school certificate from Tuendelee school in 1976 in Kindu, his hometown. In 1983, he obtained his High school diploma from the Bwindi Institute in Bukavu and began his studies at the University of Lubumbashi, then at the University of Kinshasa where he graduated in economics in 1988.[8][9]

In 2016, he started writing his doctoral thesis entitled “la qualité de l'ajustement budgétaire et croissance économique en RDC” (The quality of budgetary adjustment and economic growth in the DRC). In February 2018, he was proclaimed a doctorate in economics from the Protestant University in Congo where, since January 2019, he has been teaching courses in economic and major monetary issues in developing countries.[9][10][11]

2012 Katanga Express plane crash near the town of Bukavu

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Main article: 2012 Katanga Express Gulfstream IV crash

On 12 February 2012, while serving as Minister of Finance, Ponyo was seriously injured in a plane crash near the town of Bukavu. A Katanga Express Gulfstream IV business jet carrying several Congolese government officials overran the runway and crashed on landing at Kavumu Airport; two passengers and both crew members were killed.[12]

Career

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1988 - 2000 : Executive at the Central Bank of Congo

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Matata Ponyo worked at the Central Bank of Congo (BCC) as an economist, he is responsible for credit policy in the credit department, then money and national accounts in the studies department.[13][14] He is a member of the Monetary Policy Committee and performs several training courses, notably at the Banque de France, the Central Reserve Bank of Peru, the International Monetary Fund, and in several other countries and institutions.[15]

2000 - 2010 : Advisor to the Ministry of Finance and Director General of the BCECO

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From 2000 to 2003, he worked as advisor to the Ministry of Finance in charge of macroeconomic issues and relations with international institutions. He worked closely on the creation of the Central Coordination Office (Bureau Central De Coordination - BCECO), of which he was appointed Director General in October 2003.[16][17]

2010 - 2012 : Minister of Finance

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In February 2010, he took over the Ministry of Finance. He successfully completed the first review of the economic program, that allows the Democratic Republic of the Congo to reach the completion point in June 2010 inducing the cancellation of around 10 billion dollars of the country's external debt.[18]

In 2010, he launched a program to modernize and rejuvenate the financial administration through a recruitment and placement program for young Congolese academics, recruited on an extremely competitive basis. As Minister of Finance, he is the Chairman of the African Caucus (an organization bringing together all finance ministers from sub-Saharan Africa to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank) and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the ACA (African Trade Insurance Agency) based in Nairobi, Kenya.

On April 18, 2012, he was appointed as Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by President Joseph Kabila.[19][20]

2012 - 2016 : Prime Minister

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Main articles: First Matata government and Second Matata government

During his tenure as Prime Minister, the country achieves exceptional economic performance, the average annual inflation rate drops to 3% (sometimes the rate is below 1% per year) and the average annual economic growth is 7.7%. Matata Ponyo Mapon consolidates the banking system of public payroll and initiates reforms aimed at diversifying the economy, particularly in the agricultural sector.[21] The Democratic Republic of the Congo is then cited among the most reforming countries and the most dynamic economies in the world.[22] It is gaining a lot of place in the ranking of the human development index published by the UNDP.[21]

He resigned as Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 14 November 2016, as part of an African Union-backed national dialogue framework agreement which specifies an opposition leader takes the position of Prime Minister.[23]

2018 : Mission of the legislative elections in Togo

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Appointed by the President of the Commission of the African Union to lead the observation mission of the legislative elections of December 20, 2018 in Togo, he has talks with the various stakeholders including, government officials and those in charge of the elections, candidates and political parties, representatives of civil society and the media.[24] He supervises the deployment of observers in the various electoral districts of the country to monitor and evaluate the day of the election.[25]

Since February 2019, he has been carrying out support missions for the Togolese government in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of its vision for the development of the country as embodied in the National Development Plan of Togo.[26][27]

2020 : Head of the Presidential Election Observation Mission in Guinea

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In October 2020, Moussa Faki, President of the African Union Commission, appointed him as head of the Presidential Election Observation Mission (MOEUA) in Guinea.[28] His delegation was made up of 25 observers including ambassadors accredited to the African Union, Pan-African parliamentarians, heads of electoral management bodies, civil society organizations and African academic institutions.[28]

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Bukanga Lonzo agro-industrial park case

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Matata Ponyo is accused in 2020 by the General Inspectorate of Finance of embezzlement of public funds (up to $205 million) and criminal association during his tenure as Prime Minister. He is accused of having set up several companies controlled by his relatives for the management of the agro-industrial park of Bukanga Lonzo in Bandundu. The public prosecutor at the Constitutional Court requests the lifting of his parliamentary immunity while he has in the meantime become a senator. The Senate rejected this request on March 14, 2021 because, according to the law, it was up to the prosecutor at the Court of Cassation to make the request.[29]

In May 2021, the prosecutor at the Court of Cassation requested the lifting of the parliamentary immunity of Matata Ponyo so that he could be heard in this case.[30] Senators refuse to comment on this request.[31] Matata Ponyo is set to stand trial before the Constitutional Court for embezzlement of public funds in this case on October 25, 2021.[32]

On November 15, 2021, the highest court ruled in his favour, ruling that it cannot try him over the agriculture project's alleged mismanagement. His lawyer said he considered the case close, although the prosecution anticipated an appeal to other courts.[33]

Case of compensation for victims of Zairianization

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In 2011, while he was Minister of Finance, Matata Ponyo was responsible for compensating the victims of the Zairianization policy decreed by Mobutu Sese Seko in the 1970s. In July 2021, the prosecutor at the Constitutional Court obtained the lifting of the parliamentary immunity of Matata Ponyo to be able to question him in this case where he is suspected of embezzlement (to the tune of several million dollars). President Félix Tshisekedi is pushing for the Senate to lift Matata Ponyo's immunity.[34][35][36]

He was heard by the prosecution at the Constitutional Court and placed under a provisional arrest warrant on July 13 and then he is placed under house arrest.[37]

Books

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  • 1999 : L'espace monétaire kasaïen - Crise de légitimité et de souveraineté monétaire en période d'hyperinflation au Congo, 1993-1997 ; L'Harmattan in Paris (France).[38]
  • 2016 : Pour un Congo émergent, Privé Publishing in Paris (France).
  • 2016 : Qualité des institutions et résultats économiques en République démocratique du Congo : 1980-2015, L'Harmattan, Kinshasa (DRCongo).[39]
  • 2016 : Recueil des discours du ministre des Finances, Michel Lafon Publishing, Paris (France).
  • 2018 : Plaidoyer pour la bonne gouvernance et le développement, Michel Lafon Publishing, Paris (France).[40]

Recognition

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Honorary degrees

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Personal life

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Matata Ponyo is married to Hortense Katchoko Mbonda and is the father of four children

References

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  1. ^ "Congo-Kinshasa: Gros plan sur Matata Ponyo Mapon". AllAfrica.com. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2012. (French)
  2. ^ CIA World Leaders, Democratic Republic of the Congo Archived 6 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "MINISTERE DES FINANCES :Patrice Kitebi passe le flambeau à Henri Yav Mulang". 7sur7.cd. 12 December 2014.
  4. ^ "DR Congo Finance Minister Augustin Ponyo to be new PM". BBC News. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Joseph Kabila Reshuffles Government". congonewsagency.com. 21 February 2010. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  6. ^ "DRC: Former PM Augustin Matata Ponyo placed under house arrest over embezzlement". Africanews. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  7. ^ "List Of Senators By Electoral District". senat.cd. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Augustin Matata Ponyo Mapon : "Nous voulons travailler à l'amélioration du climat des affaires"". RFI (in French). 15 November 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Biographie de Matata Ponyo". congovirtuel.com. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Augustin Matata | World Bank Live". World Bank. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  11. ^ "RDC: le diplôme de Matata Ponyo récusé par le pr. Mabi Mulumba". La Libre Afrique (in French). 14 February 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Congolese minister being treated in South Africa". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Finances : Matata Ponyo disposé à accompagner la BCC | adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo". www.adiac-congo.com. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Matata Ponyo pour remplacer Deogratias Mutombo à la BCC?". Politico.cd (in French). 28 December 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  15. ^ Rédaction, La (19 November 2016). "RDC : Le secteur bancaire ne souhaite pas voir Matata Ponyo à tête de la BCC ! | Zoom Eco" (in French). Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  16. ^ lemaximum.cd (9 August 2016). "BCECO, 15 ANS DEJA : De Matata à Matondo, une affaire des millions de dollars" (in French). Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  17. ^ "RDC : la suppression du BCECO et l'augmentation de l'effectif du personnel de l'IGF parmi les recommandations de la table ronde de l'ODEP sur le contrôle des finances publiques". Actualite.cd (in French). 23 July 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Club de Paris". clubdeparis.org. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Matata Ponyo, nouveau Premier ministre de la RDC". RFI (in French). 18 April 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Congo president names finance minister to PM job"[dead link‍], Associated Press, 19 April 2012.
  21. ^ a b "RDC – Interview exclusive de Matata Ponyo : " J'ai navigué dans des eaux infestées de crocodiles " – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 22 November 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  22. ^ "RDC: le bilan mitigé du Premier ministre Matata Ponyo". RFI (in French). 12 November 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  23. ^ Ismail Akwei, "DR Congo Prime Minister Matata Ponyo resigns", Africanews, 14 November 2016.
  24. ^ "Législatives au Togo : Matata Ponyo Mapon nommé à la tête de la mission de l'UA – Jeune Afrique". Jeune Afrique (in French). 18 December 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  25. ^ republicoftogo.com. "L'UA satisfaite du déroulement du scrutin". République Togolaise (in French). Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  26. ^ Ecofin, Agence. "RD Congo : Augustin Matata Ponyo vise une croissance de 15%". Agence Ecofin (in French). Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  27. ^ First, Togo. "Togo adopts a new national development plan (PND 2018-2022)". www.togofirst.com. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  28. ^ a b "Déclaration d'arrivée: Mission d'observation électorale de l'UA en République de Guinée | African Union". African Union. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  29. ^ "RDC : le Sénat rejette la demande de levée d'immunité d'Augustin Matata Ponyo". RFI (in French). 14 May 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  30. ^ "RDC : le Sénat refuse de statuer sur l'immunité parlementaire de Matata Ponyo – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 14 May 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  31. ^ "RDC : la justice demande la levée de l'immunité de l'ex-Premier ministre Matata Ponyo". RFI (in French). 8 May 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  32. ^ "RDC : le procès de Matata Ponyo s'ouvrira le 25 octobre – Jeune Afrique". Jeune Afrique (in French). 13 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  33. ^ "Congo's top court says it cannot try former PM for failed agro project". Reuters. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  34. ^ "RDC – Affaire Matata Ponyo : le Sénat autorise les poursuites contre l'ancien Premier ministre – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 5 July 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  35. ^ "RDC: le bureau du Sénat met le sénateur Augustin Matata Ponyo à la disposition de la justice". RFI (in French). 6 July 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  36. ^ "RDC: la justice engage une nouvelle procédure contre l'ancien Premier ministre Matata Ponyo". RFI (in French). 2 July 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  37. ^ "RDC : Matata Ponyo placé sous mandat d'arrêt – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 13 July 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  38. ^ L'espace monétaire kasaïen - Crise de légitimité et de souveraineté monétaire en période d'hyperinflation au Congo, 1993-1997 (in French). Institut africain, CEDAF. 1993. ISBN 978-2-7384-8677-6.
  39. ^ Ponyo, Mapon Matata (1 September 2016). Qualité des institutions et résultats économiques en République démocratique du Congo: 1980-2015. ASIN 2343096627.
  40. ^ Admin (13 November 2018). "Dans un ouvrage contenant ses discours à la primature, Matata..." Alternance (in French). Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  41. ^ "In DR Congo, more engagement for an improved education system | Blog | Global Partnership for Education". Global Partnership for Education. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Finance
2010–2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of the Congo-Kinshasa
2012–2016 		Succeeded by
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