Emile Doumba
Emile Doumba | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 29, 1944 Libreville, Gabon |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, Banker |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Known for | Minister of Finance of Gabon (1999–2002), Minister of the Forest Economy (2002–2009) |
Emile Doumba (born 29 October 1944) is a politician from Gabon. Prior to his ministerial roles, he was at the helm of the Banque Internationale pour le Commerce et l'Industrie du Gabon (BICIG). He held the position of Minister of Finance between 1999 and 2002, followed by a tenure as Minister of the Forest Economy up until 2009. In mid-2009, he briefly served as Minister of Urban and Regional Planning before transitioning to Minister of Energy, Hydraulic Resources, and New Energies until October of the same year. Since then, he has occupied the office of Minister for Relations with Parliament and Constitutional Institutions, Regional Integration, and NEPAD, also overseeing Human Rights matters.
BICIG career and appointment as Finance Minister
Doumba, a native of Libreville, began his career at BICIG in 1972 and ascended to the role of Director-General in 1980. After nearly twenty years leading the bank, he was named Minister of Economy, Finance, Budget, and Privatization on 25 January 1999. Recognized for his technical expertise, Doumba was entrusted with addressing a fiscal emergency triggered by falling oil income and excessive government expenditure. His international standing facilitated Gabon's efforts to restructure its external debt. Nevertheless, some individuals within the ruling circle resisted his austerity policies due to conflicting interests.
Political career since 2001
In the parliamentary elections of December 2001, Doumba secured a seat in the National Assembly representing the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) from Ogooué-Lolo Province. Shortly thereafter, on 27 January 2002, he was appointed Minister responsible for the Forest Economy, Water and Fishing sectors, including Environment and Nature Protection. His removal from the Finance Ministry was partly influenced by internal opposition to his fiscal strategy within the government. Between 2006 and 2009, his ministerial responsibilities underwent several modifications but consistently centered on the Forest Economy domain.
Following the passing of President Omar Bongo in June 2009, Doumba was designated Minister of Urban and Regional Planning and Evaluation of Public Policy on 19 June. He then assumed the role of Minister of Energy, Hydraulic Resources, and New Energies on 22 July 2009. After Ali Bongo Ondimba's victory in the August 2009 presidential election, Doumba was reassigned on 17 October as Minister for Relations with Parliament and Constitutional Institutions, Regional Integration, and NEPAD, with added duties related to Human Rights.