Jacques Masangu

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Jacques Masangu
Joseph Kasavubu
Resident Minister of the State of Katanga to the European Economic Community in Brussels
In office
October 1960 – 7 April 1962
PresidentMoïse Tshombe
Personal details
Born (1928-11-20) November 20, 1928 (age 95)
Kipushi, Belgian Congo
Political partyBALUBAKAT

Jacques Masangu-a-Mwanza (born 20 November 1928)[1] is a Congolese and Katangese politician and diplomat.

Early career

Jacques Masangu, originating from

Université Libre de Bruxelles where he graduated in sociology and diplomatic law in 1960.[2]

Masangu was elected a Senator in the national Senate at the time of independence on 30 June 1960. He became the First Vice-president of the Congolese Senate in Léopoldville, the country's capital, on 22 June 1960. He won the election for First Vice-president with 40 votes (51%) against Michel Denge who obtained 37 votes (48%) and Joseph Okito who obtained 1 vote (1%).[3]

State of Katanga

On 11 July 1960, Katangese provincial president Moïse Tshombe declared the mineral-rich province independent as the State of Katanga. On 15 July, Masangu rallied to Tshombe's side[4] and was sent out to Brussels, capital of the former colonising country Belgium, to represent the new state as the Resident Minister of the State of Katanga to the European Economic Community. The office was named the Permanent Delegation to the European Common Market.

In March 1961, mediation efforts between Léopoldville and Élisabethville were undertaken by

Mario Cardoso, and Julien Kasongo, representatives of the central government, to obtain Tshombe's and Kimba's release.[7]

After the reestablishment of diplomatic ties between Léopoldville and Brussels, the Belgian government requested the Katangese office in Brussels to close its doors. The office in Brussels closed on 26 January 1962 and was replaced by the Cultural and Economic Office of Katanga. On 7 April 1962, Masangu resigned and was replaced by Odilon Mwenda.[8] In December 1962, he moved back to Léopoldville as a Senator for the central government.[9] Back at the service of the Léopoldville government, Masangu moved to Washington, D.C. as a Minister Counselor for Congo, where he only stayed for two months.[10]

Diplomatic and commercial career

In 1963, Masangu was appointed as a Deputy Prime Minister charged with social affairs in the government of

Balubakat party in 1963–1964, Masangu played an important role in their settlement as a prominent member of the party at the central government.[12]

From 1966 to 1977, he held several diplomatic positions. As the ambassador to the

Air Congo. Regarding the appointment, Congolese newspaper L'étoile commented that Mobutu "has shown appreciation for worthy efforts of Congolese diplomats abroad."[16] Afterwards, Masangu was appointed ambassador to Switzerland.[17]
Masangu ended his diplomatic career in The Hague, where he was Congo's ambassador to the Netherlands, agent at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and member of the board of directors of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.[18] He represented his country at the precedent-setting case by the ICJ about Abdoulaye Yerodia Ndombasi.[19] In Congo, he was president of the Board of Directors of the Société Financière de Développement (SOFIDE).[20] Masangu founded Lubumbashi-based radio and television outlet Kyondo Radio Télévision in 2011 and supported the organisation after a fire in 2019.[21][22]

Personal life

Jacques Masangu is the father of Jean-Claude Masangu Mulongo [fr], former governor of the Central Bank of Congo.[23] Furthermore, the brother of Jacques Masangu's spouse, Roger Kabulo, was the Chef de Cabinet of Balubakat politician Jason Sendwe.[24]

References

  1. ^ Nzazi, Patrick (22 November 2013). "Jacques Masangu: sa compréhension de la crise katangaise". africanewsrdc.net. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  2. ^ Jacques Masangu (2004). Le Katanga, que veut-il? Mémoires d'un Ambassadeur. Institut Congolais de Recherche en Développement et Etudes Stratégiques (ICREDES).
  3. ^ "DISCOURS PRONONCE PAR LE PRESIDENT DU SENAT A L'OCCASION DE LA COMMEMORATION DU CINQUANTENAIRE DE LA CREATION DU SENAT DE LA REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO" (PDF). Congolese Senate. 23 June 2010. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  4. ^ Jules Gérard-Libois (1963). Sécession au Katanga. Centre de recherche et d'information socio-politiques. p. 133.
  5. ^ Jean Omasombo Tshonda (2018). Haut-Katanga: Lorsque les richesses économiques et pouvoirs politiques forcent une identité régionale (PDF). AfricaMuseum. p. 382.
  6. ^ Jean Omasombo Tshonda (2018). Haut-Katanga: Lorsque les richesses économiques et pouvoirs politiques forcent une identité régionale (PDF). AfricaMuseum. p. 382.
  7. .
  8. .
  9. . Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  10. ^ Nzazi, Patrick (22 November 2013). "Jacques Masangu: sa compréhension de la crise katangaise". africanewsrdc.net. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  11. ^ Erik Kennes (2009). Fin du cycle post-colonial au Katanga, RD Congo: Rébellions, sécession et leurs mémoires dans la dynamique des articulations entre l'État central et l'autonomie régionale 1960-2007. Université Laval. p. 245.
  12. .
  13. Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
    . Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Abberufen des Botschafters aus dem Kongo". Bundesarchiv (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  15. ^ "Il Presidente della Repubblica riceve in udienza". Quirinal archives (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  16. ^ United States. Joint Publications Research Service (1971). Translations on Sub-Saharan Africa. pp. 24–25.
  17. ^ Nzazi, Patrick (22 November 2013). "Jacques Masangu: sa compréhension de la crise katangaise". africanewsrdc.net. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Public sitting held on Monday 25 April 2005, at 3 p.m., at the Peace Palace, President Shi presiding, in the case concerning Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda)" (PDF). International Court of Justice. 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Foreign minister replaced as court hearings held". The New Humanitarian. 22 November 2000. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  20. ^ Amédée MK (11 June 2019). "RDC :La SOFIDE convoque son assemblée générale le 27 juin". Desk Eco. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Jacques Masangu redonne l'espoir à Kyondo après l'incendie". congodurable.net. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  22. ^ Tshitenge Lubabu, M.K. (31 January 2014). "RDC : les infos, c'est sur Kyondo". Jeune Afrique. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  23. ^ Mbuwa, Alunga (27 April 2015). "JC Masangu, toujours aussi inspiré, sort "Paroles de Gouverneur"". lesoftonline.net. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  24. .

Bibliography