Michel Gbezera-Bria

Michel Gbezera-Bria (* 1946 in Bossangoa ) was Prime Minister of the Central African Republic from 1997 to 1999 .

Political career

Gbezera-Bria belongs to the Baya ethnic group. He was originally a lawyer and later became a diplomat. He represented his country during the 1960s and 1970s under David Dacko and Jean-Bédel Bokassa as ambassadors in various states. From 1988 to 1990 and from June 6, 1996 to February 18, 1997 he was Foreign Minister . In 1995 and 1996 he was the cabinet director of President Ange-Félix Patassé and was regarded as his confidante.

On June 30, 1997, he was appointed Prime Minister after the resignation of his predecessor. After mutinies in the army, the president had promised a "government of national unity" to ease the situation. In the government of the non-party Gbezera-Bria, 11 of the 26 ministers were politicians of the previous opposition. On February 1, 1999, he left office. Problems during his term of office were mutinies by units of the army due to lack of pay and empty public coffers. Since a government reshuffle in November 1999, he has returned to the cabinet as Minister of State.

Web links

• Afrique express , Cabinet List , February 18, 1997 (French)