Augustin Matata Ponyo

Augustin Matata Ponyo
Prime Minister of the Congo-Kinshasa
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 April 2012
President	Joseph Kabila
Preceded by	Louis Alphonse Koyagialo (Acting)
Minister of Finance
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 February 2010
Prime Minister	Adolphe Muzito Louis Alphonse Koyagialo (Acting)
Preceded by	Atanase Matenda
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 has been Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since April 2012.^[2] Previously he served as Minister of Finance from February 2010 to April 2012;^[3][4] as Prime Minister, he retains 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 ex-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]

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
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.