Cassam Uteem

Cassam Uteem, GCSK (born in Port Louis on 22 March 1941) is a Mauritian political figure who served as the second president of Mauritius from 30 June 1992 to 15 February 2002. He is the longest served president of Mauritius, having served for nearly ten years.

Early life and education

Cassam Uteem attended the secondary school Royal College Port Louis. Then he travelled to France and studied at Paris VII University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Art and a master's degree in Psychology. He also holds a Certificate in Social Work from the University of Mauritius and a "Diplôme d’État Français d’Assistant des services sociaux".

Ancestry and family life

In the 1800s Cassam Uteem's ancestors migrated from the historic city of Azamgarh's Village Dubawan, Uttar Pradesh in India. He is married to Zohra Uteem and they have three children Reza Uteem, Dilshaad Uteem and Oomar Uteem.

Political career

In the 1960s, Cassam Uteem was a youth leader and social worker who was actively involved in the local community during colonial times that preceded the 1968 Independence of Mauritius. He became a leading member of leftist political party the Militant Movement of Mauritius (MMM). In 1969 he was elected Councillor of the City of Port Louis at the Municipal Elections, a position in which he remained for several years before becoming city's Lord Mayor in 1986.

Cassam Uteem was elected a member of the Mauritian Legislative Assembly in 1976. He was re-elected as a member of Parliament in 1982, 1983, 1987 and 1991. In 1982 and 1983 he held the portfolio of Minister of Employment, Social Security and National Solidarity. In 1990, he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Industrial Technology. When he formed part of the Opposition in Parliament he was “Opposition Whip” and Chairman of the “Public Accounts Committee.”

On 15 February 2002, he resigned from office, after refusing to sign a controversial anti-terrorism bill, namely PoTA, into the constitution. His term would have ended in June 2002. He was replaced as president by Angidi Chettiar.

On 10 November 2014, Mr. Uteem was appointed United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy and Head of the United Nations Electoral Observation Mission in Burundi

In November 2014, Mr. Uteem was elected President of International Movement ATD Fourth World.

Uteem was a candidate for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission in early 2008, but withdrew prior to the vote.Abera W. Kidan
"Africa: Two Candidates Withdraw Bids for AU Top Post"
''The Daily Monitor'', Addis Ababa (allAfrica.com), January 31, 2008.

Cassam Uteem is a Member of the Global Leadership Foundation, an organization which works to support democratic leadership, prevent and resolve conflict through mediation and promote good governance in the form of democratic institutions, open markets, human rights and the rule of law. It does so by making available, discreetly and in confidence, the experience of former leaders to today's national leaders. It is a not-for-profit organization composed of former heads of government, senior governmental and international organization officials who work closely with Heads of Government on governance-related issues of concern to them.

Uteem appeared in the John Pilger documentary ''Stealing a Nation'', which is about the Chagos Archipelago sovereignty dispute.

Awards and decorations

*:
** Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (1993)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uteem, Cassam
1941 births
Living people
Presidents of Mauritius
Mauritian Muslims
Mauritian politicians of Indian descent
Grand Commanders of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean
Mauritian Militant Movement politicians