Matata Ponyo Mapon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matata Ponyo Mapon
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| 23rd Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| In office 18 April 2012 – 17 November 2016 |
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| President | Joseph Kabila |
| Preceded by | Louis Alphonse Koyagialo (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Samy Badibanga |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 21 February 2010 – 12 April 2012 |
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| Prime Minister | Adolphe Muzito Louis Alphonse Koyagialo (Acting) |
| Preceded by | Atanase Matenda |
| Succeeded by | Patrice Kitebi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 June 1964 Maniema, Congo-Léopoldville (now Congo-Kinshasa) |
| Alma mater | University of Kinshasa |
Matata Ponyo Mapon (born 5 June 1964) is an important political figure from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He served as the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from April 2012 to November 2016. Before that, he was the Minister of Finance from 2010 to 2012. As Prime Minister, he also continued to manage the country's finances. Today, he is a Senator for the Maniema region.
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Matata Ponyo Mapon's Life and Education
Early Life and School Years
Matata Ponyo Mapon started primary school in 1970 in Kindu. He finished primary school in 1976. In 1983, he earned his high school diploma from the Bwindi Institute in Bukavu. He then went on to study at the University of Lubumbashi and later at the University of Kinshasa. He graduated with a degree in economics in 1988.
In 2016, he began working on his doctoral thesis. This is a big research paper needed to get a doctorate degree. His thesis was about how well a country manages its money and how that helps its economy grow. In 2018, he earned his doctorate in economics from the Protestant University in Congo. Since 2019, he has been teaching economics there.
Plane Accident in 2012
In February 2012, while he was the Minister of Finance, Matata Ponyo was in a plane accident near Bukavu. The plane, a business jet, went off the runway when it was landing. Matata Ponyo was seriously injured but survived.
Matata Ponyo Mapon's Career
Working at the Central Bank (1988-2000)
Matata Ponyo worked as an economist at the Central Bank of Congo (BCC). He helped manage credit policies and national accounts. He was also part of the team that decided on money policies. He received training from important banks and organizations around the world, like the Banque de France and the International Monetary Fund.
Advisor and Director General (2000-2010)
From 2000 to 2003, he advised the Ministry of Finance. He focused on how the country's economy worked and its relationships with international groups. He helped create the Central Coordination Office (BCECO), which he led as Director General starting in 2003.
Minister of Finance (2010-2012)
In February 2010, Matata Ponyo became the Minister of Finance. He helped the Democratic Republic of the Congo successfully complete an economic program. This led to the cancellation of about 10 billion dollars of the country's external debt. This meant the country no longer had to pay back that huge amount of money.
In 2010, he started a program to improve the financial administration. He hired many young, talented Congolese graduates. As Minister of Finance, he also led a group of finance ministers from sub-Saharan Africa. He was also the head of the board for the African Trade Insurance Agency. On April 18, 2012, President Joseph Kabila appointed him as the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister (2012-2016)
As Prime Minister, Matata Ponyo Mapon helped the country's economy grow very well. The average inflation rate, which is how fast prices go up, dropped to about 3% each year. The economy grew by an average of 7.7% annually. He also made the banking system stronger. He started changes to help the economy grow in different ways, especially in farming. The Democratic Republic of the Congo became known as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. It also improved its ranking in the human development index, which measures how well people live.
He stepped down as Prime Minister on November 14, 2016. This was part of an agreement to allow an opposition leader to take the position.
Election Observation Missions
In 2018, the President of the African Union Commission asked Matata Ponyo to lead a team observing the legislative elections in Togo. He met with government officials, election organizers, and political parties. His team watched the election day to make sure it was fair. Since 2019, he has also helped the Togolese government with its national development plan.
In October 2020, he was again appointed by the African Union Commission to lead a team observing the presidential election in Guinea. His team included ambassadors and experts from various African organizations.
Books by Matata Ponyo Mapon
Matata Ponyo Mapon has written several books about economics and governance:
- 1999: L'espace monétaire kasaïen (about money issues in Congo during hyperinflation)
- 2016: Pour un Congo émergent (For an Emerging Congo)
- 2016: Qualité des institutions et résultats économiques en République démocratique du Congo (about the quality of institutions and economic results in DRC)
- 2016: Recueil des discours du ministre des Finances (Collection of Speeches by the Minister of Finance)
- 2018: Plaidoyer pour la bonne gouvernance et le développement (Advocacy for Good Governance and Development)
Awards and Recognition
Honorary Degrees
- He received an Honorary Doctorate from the faculty of economics at Protestant University in the Congo in Kinshasa in 2016.
- He also received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Kindu in 2017.
He was recognized as a "Global sponsor of education" by the Global Partnership for Education in 2014. This was for his strong interest and support for the education sector.
Personal Life
Matata Ponyo is married to Hortense Katchoko Mbonda. They have four children.
See also
In Spanish: Augustin Matata Ponyo para niños
