Augustin Matata Ponyo

Augustin Matata Ponyo
Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In office 18 April 2012 – 17 November 2016
President	Joseph Kabila
Preceded by	Louis Alphonse Koyagialo (Acting)
Succeeded by	Samy Badibanga
Minister of Finance
In office 21 February 2010 – 12 April 2012
Prime Minister	Adolphe Muzito Louis Alphonse Koyagialo (Acting)
Preceded by	Atanase Matenda
Succeeded by	Henri Yav Mulang
Personal details
Born	5 June 1964[1] Maniema, Congo-Léopoldville (now Congo-Kinshasa)
Political party	People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
Alma mater	University of Kinshasa

Augustin Matata Ponyo Mapon (born 5 June 1964) is a Congolese political figure who was Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from April 2012 to November 2016.^[2] Previously he served as Minister of Finance from February 2010 to April 2012;^[3][4] as Prime Minister, he retained responsibility for the finance portfolio.

Career

On 12 February 2012, while serving as Finance Minister, Ponyo was seriously injured in a plane crash near the town of Bukavu. Other victims of the crash included the ex-President Director General of OGEDEP (Office de Gestion de la Dette Publique) and national deputy for the district of Lukunga Oscar Dimageko Gema (who died two weeks after the crash), the roving ambassador of President Kabila and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Antoine Ghonda (who survived), former Governor of Katanga Province and President Kabila's closest advisor, Augustin Katumba Mwanke (who died during the crash), and the Governor of South Kivu, Marcellin Chishambo (who survived with a minor leg injury).^[5] On 14 February 2012 it was reported that he had been flown to South Africa for treatment.^[6]

On 18 April 2012 he was appointed as Prime Minister by President Joseph Kabila.^[7]

He visited Beni after the massacre there, and was booed by hundreds of people. Violent protests then broke out which resulted in the deaths of three people.^[8]

He resigned as Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 14 November 2016, as part of a African Union-backed national dialogue framework agreement which specifies an opposition leader takes the position of Prime Minister.^[9]

References

1. "Congo-Kinshasa: Gros plan sur Matata Ponyo Mapon". AllAfrica.com. 2011-08-02. Retrieved 2012-02-13. (French)
2. CIA World Leaders, Democratic Republic of the Congo Archived 6 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
3. "DR Congo Finance Minister Augustin Ponyo to be new PM". BBC News. 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
4. "Joseph Kabila Reshuffles Government". congonewsagency.com. 2010-02-21. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
5. "Finance minister wounded in Congo plane crash-govt". Reuters. 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
6. "Congolese minister being treated in South Africa". timeslive.co.za. 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
7. "Congo president names finance minister to PM job", Associated Press, 19 April 2012.
8. "Three dead in protests after DR Congo massacre", Agence France-Presse, 18 August 2016.
9. Ismail Akwei, "DR Congo Prime Minister Matata Ponyo resigns", Africanews, 14 November 2016.

Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (list)
Republic of the Congo (1960–1971)	Patrice Lumumba Joseph Iléo Albert Ndele Justin Marie Bomboko Antoine Gizenga (rebel) Cyrille Adoula Moise Tshombe Évariste Kimba Léonard Mulamba
Republic of Zaire (1971–1997)	Mpinga Kasenda Bo-Boliko Lokonga Mihambo Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond Joseph Untube N'singa Udjuu Kengo Wa Dondo Mabi Mulumba Sambwa Pida Nbagui Lunda Bululu Mulumba Lukoji Étienne Tshisekedi Bernardin Mungul Diaka Faustin Birindwa Kengo Wa Dondo Likulia Bolongo
Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–present)	Antoine Gizenga Adolphe Muzito Louis Alphonse Koyagialo (Acting) Augustin Matata Ponyo Samy Badibanga