Central African Republic Ministers

Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Female Ministers of the Central African Republic/ République Centroafricaine/ Bê-Afrîca (Female Suffrage restricted (only French Women) 1946/ restricted (for African Women) 1951/ full (for African Women) 1956)) The former French Colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic within the French Community 1958 before becoming independent 1960, 1976-79 the country was an Empirethe French Community 1958 before becoming independent 1960, 1976-79 the country was an Empire

Thanks to Juan Fandos-Rius for parts of the information on this page

1970 Vice-Minister to the Presidency in charge of Social Affairs Marie-Josèphe Franck Zani-FéTouam-Bona
1970-71 Minister of Social Affairs
1975 Vice-Minister to the Presidency in Charge of Social Affairs
1976 Vice-Minister of Social Affairs, Popular Education and National Organizations
1976 Member of the Central African Revolution Council in charge of Social Affairs, Popular Education and National Organizations
1976-1979 Minister of Social Affairs, Organization and Promotion of Women
First married to Antonio Franck (who also was a Minister of the Government) to whom she divorced in 1973, then married twice to André Zani-Fé Touam-Bona (who also was a Minister of the Government.) She was an independent MP from 1993 until her death. She lived (1933-2001)

1970 Minister for the Plan and Cooperation Marie-Mathurine Silinghia
1970 Minister for the Plan and National Guidance
1970-71 Minister of International Cooperation
(dead 2008).

1974-76 Prime Minister Élisabeth Domitien (6.6.1974-7.4.1976)
As Prime Minister she served as acting President at occasions when President Jean-Bédel Bokassa was abroad. Also Vice-President of the ruling Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa (MESAN) circa 1967-79. A cousin of Bokassa, 1966-76 President and 1976-79 Emperor of the Central African Empire. She was sacked and placed under house arrest for having criticized Bokassa’s plans to become a monarch. After his fall she was imprisoned and tried in February 1980. She later became an influential businesswoman in Bangui. Married to a European businessman after widowing she married twice to Jean Baka, a mayor of a municipality in Lobaye region. She lived (1925-2005).

1975-79 Minister of Finance Marie-Christiane Gbokou
Born as Marie Christiane Mbeko. She led the Central African Republic delegation to a IMF and World Bank meeting in Manila, Philippines (4-8 October 1976).

1975 Vice-Minister to the President in Charge of State Vehicles Marie-Charlotte Aguide Fayanga
Original name is Marie Charlotte Fayanga (b. 1946-).

1976 Vice-Minister to the President in Charge of Trade and Industry Marie-Josée Maythongol
1976-79 Minister of Trade and Industry
1979 Minister of Transport, Trade and Industry
She led Central African Empire delegation to the UNCTAD summit held in Manila, Philippines (7 May-1 Jun 1979).

1978-79 Vice-Minister for Social Affairs Angeline Songomali
Served as Director General of Social Affairs 1975-78. Her sister Marie-Josèphe Songomali was Minister of Culture 1999-2001. (b. 1943-).

1981 Minister of Social Affairs and Women Lucienne Goddot
(b. 1946-).

1981 Vice-Minister for Budget Cécile Koyaga
(b. 1951-).

1988-90 Vice-Minister for Social Affairs Genevievè Lombilo
1990-91 Minister of Health and Social Affairs
1992-93 Vice-Minister for Health and Social Affairs

1991-92 Vice-Minister for Social Affairs Antoniette Teguedere

1992-93 Minister of Social Affairs, Women and National Solidarity Jeanne Marie Ruth Rolland
She was a social worker from 1964. She was elected President of the Central African Republic’s Red Cross in 1980. Under President André Dieudonné Kolingba she was jailed because of her political ideas,in August 1987, then a Special Court for political matters sentenced her to a 3-year term imprisonment. She was released in 1989, but she was arrested again in December 1989 after refusing to make way for a Presidential retinue. She was handcuffed and taken into a paramilitary camp and later finally released in April 1991. Leader of Central African Republican Party (PRC) 1992-1995 and MP 1993-98 and Presidential Candidate in 1993. She lived (1937-95).

1993-95 Minister of Social Action and Women’s Rights Marie-Noëlle Ande Koyara
1995-96 Minister of Women’s Rights and National Solidarity
1996-97 Minister of Rural Promotion
2013-14 Minister of Rural Development
2014 Minister of State
2014-15 Minister in charge of Public Works, Equipment and Planning
2015 Minister of State in charge of National Defence, Restructuring of the Army, Veterans and War Victims
First woman to serve as Defence Minister in the Central African Republic (b. 1955-) .

1993 Vice-Minister for Education, Research and Technology Simone Bodemo
1995-96 Vice-Minister in Charge of the Government’s Secretariat
(b. 1955-).

1996-97 Minister of Health Cécile Farra-Frond
Born as Cécile Demba.

1997-99 Minister of Health and Population Jocelyne Fernande Djengbot
2016 Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Population
Original name was Jocelyne Fernande Dodde. (b. 1963-)

1997 Minister of Family Promotion, Social Affairs and National Solidarity Eliane Mokodopo
1997-99 Minister of Health and Population
(b. 1957-).

1997-2001 Vice-Minister for National Solidarity Albertine Mbissa
2011-13 Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Entrerprises, the Informal Sector and Single Window Implementation Albertine Agoundoukoua Mbissa

1999-2001 Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Juliette Nzekou
1999 Minister of Social Affairs, Family Promotion and the Disabled Anne-Marie Ngouyombo
2005-06 Minister of Tourism and Handcraft
Mayor of Bangui 1994. In October 2005 she was suspended along with 2 other ministers for a 3- month period after a fraud probe into salaries of state employees. (b. 1955-)

1999-2001 Minister of Social Affairs, Family Promotion and the Disabled Rachel Déa Nambona
Original name was Rachel Nambona. (b. 1953-)

1999-2001 and 2003 Minister of Tourism Natalie-Constance Gounébana
2001-03 Minister of Minister of Arts and Culture
2001-03 Minister of Environment, Water Resources, Forestry, Hunting and Fisheries
(b. 1963-).

1999-2001 Minister of Culture Marie-Josèphe Songomali Toungovala
Her sister Angeline Songomali was Vice-Minister for Social Affairs in 1978-79. (b. 1954-).

2001 Minister of Social Affairs, Promotion of Women and Youth in Charge of Integration of the Disabled Françoise Ibrahim

2001-03 Minister of Social Affairs, Promotion of Women in Charge of Integration of the Disabled
Original name was Françoise Ndoma (b. 1956-).

2001-03 Minister-Delegate to the Minister of State of Communication, Post and Telecommunication in Charge of New Technologies, Culture and the Francophonie Marguérite Kofio
(b. 1955-).

2003-04 Minister of Family, Social Affairs and National Solidarity Léa Doumta-Koyassoum
2004-05 Minister of Justice and Keeper of the State Seals
2005-06 Minister of Public Health and Population
Her original name was Léa Doumta, she became Secretary General of Parti de l’Unité nationale (PUN) in 1999,
Vice Chairperson of the National Council of the Transition from 2013 to 2016 and Acting Chair in 2014. (b. 1956-).

2003 Minister of Trade, Industry and Promotion of the Private Sector Yacinthe Wodobodé
2003-04 Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Good Governance
Prefect and Mayor of the capital, Bangui 2014-2016. (b. 1953-).

2004-09 Minister of Family and Social Affairs Marie-Solange Pagonéndji Ndakala
2009-11 Minister of Development, Tourism and Handcrafts
Elected Vice President of Kwa Na Kwa (KNK) party in 2009. (b. 1962-).

2005-06 and 2008-2013 Minister of Trade, Industry and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Emilie Béatrice Epaye
(b. 1956-).

2006 and 2009-2011 Minister-Delegate of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and the Francophonie Ambroisine Kpongo
In 2006 she was in office 31. January-5. February. Appointed Ambassador to the United Nations in 2014. (b. 1951-).

2006-08 Minister of Tourism Yvonne M'boïssona
2008-09 Minister of Water, Forestry, Hunting, Fisheries and Environment
President of Union du mouvement populaire de Centrafrique (UMPCA), and member of Convergence Kwa Na Kwa (KNK), she is the sister of former President François Bozizé. (b. 1957-).

2006-08 Minister of Trade, Industry and Promotion of the Private Sector Rosalie Koudounguéré
President of Organisation des femmes centrafricaines (OFCA).

2006-07 Minister-Delegate of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Francophonie Marie-Reine Hassen
2007-08 Minister-Delegate of Economy and International Cooperation charged with International Cooperation
2008-09 Minister-Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic in Charge of Regional Development
Imprisoned under President Jean-Bédel Bokassa 1974-76, forced to marry him 1976-78 and later married Guy Darlan. She is daughter of Clément Hassen, a former Secretary for the President of the Republic and high ranking civil servant. (b. 1954-). I

2008-09 Minister of Touristic Development and Handcrafts Bernadette Sayo
2009-11 Minister of Social Affairs, National Solidarity and Family

2013 Minister-Delegate of Primary and Professional Education
2011-13 Minister of Primary, Secondary Education and Literacy Gisèle Annie Nam

2011-13 Minister of International Cooperation, Regional Integration and Francophonie Dorothée Aimée Malenzapa
2013 Minister of Rural Development
Ambassador to the Francophonie in Paris 1993-1998. In 2013 in office from February to April, after the president was removed in a coup d'etat. (b. 1951-)

2011-13 Minister of Social Affairs, National Solidarity and Gender Promotion Marguérite Pétro-Koni-Zezé

(b. 1948-) as Marguérite Zarambaud, became Marguérite Balenguélé by marriage, then Pétro-Koni-
Zezé.
First female mayor of Bangui 1989-90.

2011-13 Minister of Rural Development, Tourism, and Craft Industry Sylvie Annick Mazoungou

2013 Minister of Health, Population and the fight against HIV/Aids Marie Madeleine Nkouet-Hoornaert
2013 Minister of Housing and Habitat
She was appointed Vice Chairperson of Autorité nationale des elections (ANE, National Electoral Authority) 2013, then replaced Dieudonné Kombo-Yaya as Chairperson in 2015.

2013 Minister of Social Affairs, National Solidarity and the Promotion of Genders Marie Madeleine Moussa Yadouma

2013 Minister-Delegate of Foreign Affairs, Integration and the Francophonie, in Charge of the Central Africans Abroad Anne Victoire Yakoussoube

2013-14 Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, the Francophonie and Central Africans Abroad Léonie Banga-Bothy
Born as Léonie Mbazoa.

2013-14 Minister of Social Affairs, National Solidarity and Gender Affairs Lucile Mazangué Blay-Eureka

2014 Minister of Justice Isabelle Gaudeuille
2014- Minister of Water Drilling and Fisheries
2014-15 Minister of Hunting
(b. 1954-)

2014-16 Minister of Economy, Planning and International Development Florence Limbio
She worked for the Banque des États d’Afrique Centrale (BEAC).

2014 Minister of Water, Forestry, Tourism and Environment Hyacinthe Toubaye

2014-16 Minister of Public Health, Population and Humanitarian Action Marguerite Marie Samba Maliavo
Born as Marguerite Marie Balla.

2014-15 Minister of Education Gisèle Bédan

2014 Minister of Communication and National Reconciliation Antoinette Montaigne
Born as Antoinette Moussa.

2014 Minister of Trade Gertrude Zouta

2014-16 Minister of Trade, Industry and Small and Medium-Sized Entreprises

2014-15 Minister of Reconciliation, Political Dialogue and the Promotion of Civic Culture Jeannette Déthoua
She worked as special adviser at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Women’s Rights 1994-96, then at the Prime Minister’s cabinet in 1996.

2014-16 Minister of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action Eugénie Yarafa

2015-2016 Minister of Public Service Odile Zitongo
(b. 1953-)

2015-16 Minister of Reconciliation, Political Dialogue and the Promotion of Civic Culture Lydie Florence Ndouba
Subprefect of Boali 1994-99 (As the second woman), appointed Prefect of Ombella-M’Poko in 1999, Prefect of Ouaka 2009-13 and appointed Prefect of Mambéré-Kadéï in 2014.

2016 Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, Water, Forestry, Hunting and Fisheries Arlette Sombo Dibélé

2016 Minister of Social Affairs and National Reconciliation Virginie Mbaikoua

2016 Minister of Arts, Tourism, Culture and Fracophonie Gisèle Aline Pana
She was appointed Director of Hotels and Tourism 2007

Last update 20.09.16