Youssouf Ouédraogo

Youssouf Ouédraogo (25 December 1952 – 18 November 2017) was a Burkinabé politician.[2] In 1992 he became the first Prime Minister of Burkina Faso since 1983, serving from 16 June 1992 to 22 March 1994. Ouédraogo, a member of the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP), later served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from January 1999 to June 2007.

Youssouf Ouédraogo
Prime Minister of Burkina Faso
In office 16 June 1992 – 22 March 1994
President	Blaise Compaoré
Preceded by	Thomas Sankara
Succeeded by	Roch Marc Christian Kaboré
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office January 1999 – June 2007
President	Blaise Compaoré
Prime Minister	Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo Paramanga Ernest Yonli
Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Belgium, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Netherlands and European Union
In office March 1994 – January 1999
President	Blaise Compaoré
Special Adviser to the President of African Development Bank
In office September 2007 – 18 November 2017
President	Donald Kaberuka
President of Social and Economic Council
In office April 1989 – May 1992
Minister of Planning and Cooperation
In office October 1987 – April 1989
President	Blaise Compaoré
Prime Minister	Unoccupied position
Minister of Planning and Popular Development
In office August 1984 – October 1987
President	Thomas Sankara
Prime Minister	Unoccupied position
Personal details
Born	(1952-12-25)25 December 1952[1] Tikaré, Burkina Faso
Died	18 November 2017(2017-11-18) (aged 64) Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Biography

Ouédraogo was born in Tikaré, in Bam Province. Under Thomas Sankara, Ouédraogo was appointed to the government as Minister of Planning and Popular Development on 31 August 1984, remaining in that position for three years. Shortly after Sankara was assassinated in October 1987, Ouédraogo became Minister for the Plan and Cooperation under Blaise Compaoré. He left that position on 25 April 1989 and became President of the Economic and Social Council,[3] in which position he served until he was elected to the National Assembly as a deputy from Bam[1][3] in the May 1992 parliamentary election.[1] He was appointed as Prime Minister by Compaoré on 16 June 1992.[3]

The CFA franc was devaluated in January 1994, and this was followed by controversy.[3][4] Ouédraogo signed an agreement with trade unions to raise salaries on 12 March 1994, but the agreement fell through and Ouédraogo resigned a few days later.[4] He then served as Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and the European Union[1] before being appointed as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in January 1999.[3][5]

Ouédraogo was elected to the National Assembly again in the 2007 parliamentary election as a candidate of the CDP from Bam Province.[6] In the government of Prime Minister Tertius Zongo, which was appointed on 10 June 2007, he was replaced as Foreign Minister by Djibrill Bassolé.[7] He subsequently became Special Adviser to the President of the African Development Bank.[8]

Political career

He obtained a degree in marketing[9] at the Universities of Dijon, Clermont-Ferrand and Lyon III (France). He taught at the University of Ouagadougou from 1982.[10]

Under Thomas Sankara (President of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987), Ouédraogo was appointed to the government as Minister of Planning and Popular Development on 31 August 1984,[11] remaining in that position for three years. Shortly after Sankara was assassinated in October 1987, Ouédraogo became Minister for the Plan and Cooperation under Blaise Compaoré.[11] He left that position on 25 April 1989 and became President of the Economic and Social Council, in which position he served until he was elected to the National Assembly as a deputy from Bam in the May 1992 parliamentary election.[10] He was appointed as Prime Minister by Compaoré on 16 June 1992.[10]

He promoted reforms favorable to the private sector. He entered into negotiations with the IMF and the World Bank to reach agreements on structural adjustment.[12] The CFA franc was devaluated in January 1994, and this was followed by controversy. Ouédraogo signed an agreement with trade unions to raise salaries on 12 March 1994, but the agreement fell through and Ouédraogo resigned a few days later.[13]

Diplomacy

He also had a diplomatic career. He served as Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and the European Union[14] before being appointed as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in January 1999.[15]

Chairman of the African Group of Ambassadors Committee – Caribbean – Pacific (ACP), he is one of the main negotiators in front of the European Commission at the renewal of the Fourth Geneva Convention governing the ACP-EU Partnership for the period 1995–1999.[16]

Recalled to Burkina Faso in January 1999,[17] he was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs, a post he held until 2007.[18]

He represented Africa at the launch in March 1999 of the US – Africa Partnership for 21st century,[19] with President Bill Clinton. At this time the Burkina Faso held the presidency of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). He strongly supported the preferential agreement proposed by the United States to promote trade relations with Africa (AGOA) and the creation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.[20] He also organized Burkina second ministerial meeting implementation of the Africa – European Union (2002),[21] and the tenth Francophonie Summit (2004).[22]

Ouédraogo was elected to the National Assembly again in the 2007 parliamentary election as a candidate of the CDP from Bam Province.[22] In the government of Prime Minister Tertius Zongo, which was appointed on 10 June 2007, he was replaced as Foreign Minister by Djibrill Bassolé.[22]

International organisations

In September 2007, he became Special Adviser to the President of the African Development Bank.[23] He was in charge of political and diplomatic issues. He was appointed to that position to deepen and/or expand the partnership between the Bank and its Member States,[24] Regional Economic Communities and international institutions. He also defends a stronger partnership between the Maghreb and Sub-Saharan Africa.[25]

In 2016, he was elected associated member of the Royal Academies for Science and Arts of Belgium.[26] His induction took place on 28 May during an official ceremony at the Academy Palace of Belgium where he held a speech on behalf of all new members.

Death

Ouédraogo died on 18 November 2017 at the age of 64.[27]

Decorations

• Silver Medal (today, Command-officer) of Burkina Faso Revolution's Torch (4 August 1985)[10]
• Title of Grand Officer of the National Order of Burkina Faso (11 December 1994)[10]
• Commander-in-chief in the Order of Mono of Togo (1 March 2008)[10]
• Title of Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown of Belgium (22 July 2005)[10]

References

1. Profile at petiteacademie.gov.bf Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in French)
2. Wonogo, Zoumana (18 November 2017). "Décès de l'ex-Premier ministre Youssouf Ouédraogo du Burkina". VOA (in French). Retrieved 18 November 2017.
3. Jean-Pierre Bejot, "Youssouf Ouédraogo, patron de la diplomatie burkinabè" Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, lefaso.net, 3 November 2003 (in French).
4. "Mar 1994 – New Government", Keesing's Record of World Events, volume 40, March 1994, Burkina, page 39,898.
5. "Le gouvernement du Burkina Faso, formé le 14 janvier 1999" Archived 12 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Afrique Express (in French).
6. "List of candidates elected to the National Assembly in 2007". National Assembly website (in French). Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2007.
7. "Le nouveau gouvernement reste dominé par le parti au pouvoir", AFP, 11 June 2007 (in French).
8. Stéphane Ballong, "Sommet du G-20 : « il n’y aura pas de solution globale sans l’Afrique »", Afrik.com, 14 November 2008 (in French).
9. « Sommet du G-20 : « il n’y aura pas de solution globale sans l’Afrique » » , on afrik.com, 14 November 2008
10. « Youssouf Ouedraogo », on forum-ameriques.org
11. "allAfrica.com: myAfrica". Retrieved 26 November 2016.
12. « Burkina », on afriquepluriel.net
13. « Youssouf Ouedraogo patron de la diplomatie Burkinabé », on lefaso.net
14. « Présentation des lettres de créance des chefs de mission à Jacques Delors, président de la CE », on ec.europa.eu
15. « Léger remaniement ministériel au Burkina-Fasso » , on panapress.com
16. « La Francophonie invitée à soutenir les producteurs africains de coton », on coton-acp.org
17. « Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo reconduit comme Premier ministre » Archived 15 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, on afrique-express.com
18. "Le gouvernement du Faso - izf.net". Retrieved 26 November 2016.
19. "UN PACTE DE PARTENARIAT AVEC LES PAYS D'AFRIQUE CENTRALE EST PROPOSE PAR LA BELGIQUE AU COURS DU DEBAT GENERAL DE L'ASSEMBLEE GENERALE – Couverture des réunions & communiqués de presse". Retrieved 26 November 2016.
20. "Compaore adoubé par Washington – BURKINA FASO – La Lettre du Continent 16/02/2006". Retrieved 26 November 2016.
21. "Conférence ministérielle Afrique-Europe à Ouagadougou – gouvernement.lu // L'actualité du gouvernement du Luxembourg". Retrieved 26 November 2016.
22. "Youssouf Ouédraogo en Belgique – leFaso.net, l'actualité au Burkina Faso". Retrieved 26 November 2016.
23. "Youssouf Ouedraogo à la BAD - JeuneAfrique.com". 23 September 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
24. Baldé, Oumar. "Youssouf Ouédraogo: Conseiller spécial du président de la BAD". Retrieved 26 November 2016.
25. "E-Talk Eco : L'Afrique subsaharienne, un relais de croissance pour le Maghreb, selon la BAD – Afrique Inside Un média 100% numérique". Retrieved 26 November 2016.
26. "New academy members' ceremony (May 28th)", Académie Royale de Belgique}.
27. Décès de l'ex-Premier ministre Youssouf Ouédraogo du Burkina (in French)