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Youssouf Ouédraogo (25 December 1952 – 18 November 2017) was a Burkinabé politician. In 1992 he became the first Prime Minister of Burkina Faso since 1983, serving from 16 June 1992 to 22 March 1994. Ouédraogo, a member of the ruling
Congress for Democracy and Progress The Congress for Democracy and Progress (french: Congrès pour la Démocratie et le Progrès, ''CDP'') was the ruling party in Burkina Faso from 1996 until the overthrow of Blaise Compaoré in 2014. History The party was founded in February 199 ...
(CDP), later served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from January 1999 to June 2007.


Biography

Ouédraogo was born in Tikaré, in Bam Province. Under Thomas Sankara, Ouédraogo was appointed to the government as Minister of Planning and Popular Development on 31 August 1984, remaining in that position for three years. Shortly after Sankara was assassinated in October 1987, Ouédraogo became Minister for the Plan and Cooperation under Blaise Compaoré. He left that position on 25 April 1989 and became President of the Economic and Social Council,Jean-Pierre Bejot
"Youssouf Ouédraogo, patron de la diplomatie burkinabè"
, lefaso.net, 3 November 2003 .
in which position he served until he was elected to the National Assembly as a deputy from Bam in the May 1992 parliamentary election. He was appointed as Prime Minister by Compaoré on 16 June 1992. The CFA franc was devaluated in January 1994, and this was followed by controversy."Mar 1994 – New Government", ''Keesing's Record of World Events'', volume 40, March 1994, Burkina, page 39,898. Ouédraogo signed an agreement with trade unions to raise salaries on 12 March 1994, but the agreement fell through and Ouédraogo resigned a few days later. He then served as Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and the European Union before being appointed as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in January 1999. Ouédraogo was elected to the National Assembly again in the 2007 parliamentary election as a candidate of the CDP from Bam Province. In the government of Prime Minister
Tertius Zongo Tertius Zongo (born 18 May 1957) was the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from June 2007 to April 2011. Biography Zongo was born in Koudougou. He has an extensive background in economics and accounting. He became Minister Delegate for Budget and Pl ...
, which was appointed on 10 June 2007, he was replaced as Foreign Minister by Djibrill Bassolé. He subsequently became Special Adviser to the President of the African Development Bank.


Political career

He obtained a degree in marketing at the
Universities of Dijon A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase ''universitas magistrorum et scholarium'', which rou ...
, Clermont-Ferrand and
Lyon III Lyon,, ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, third-largest city and Urban area (France), second-largest metropolitan area of F ...
(France). He taught at the University of Ouagadougou from 1982.« Youssouf Ouedraogo »
on forum-ameriques.org
Under Thomas Sankara (President of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987), Ouédraogo was appointed to the government as Minister of Planning and Popular Development on 31 August 1984, remaining in that position for three years. Shortly after Sankara was assassinated in October 1987, Ouédraogo became
Minister for the Plan and Cooperation Minister may refer to: * Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric ** Minister (Catholic Church) * Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department) ** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...
under Blaise Compaoré. He left that position on 25 April 1989 and became President of the Economic and Social Council, in which position he served until he was elected to the National Assembly as a deputy from Bam in the May 1992 parliamentary election. He was appointed as Prime Minister by Compaoré on 16 June 1992. He promoted reforms favorable to the private sector. He entered into negotiations with the IMF and the World Bank to reach agreements on structural adjustment. The CFA franc was devaluated in January 1994, and this was followed by controversy. Ouédraogo signed an agreement with trade unions to raise salaries on 12 March 1994, but the agreement fell through and Ouédraogo resigned a few days later.


Diplomacy

He also had a diplomatic career. He served as
Ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...
to Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and the European Union before being appointed as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in January 1999. Chairman of the African Group of Ambassadors Committee – Caribbean – Pacific (ACP), he is one of the main negotiators in front of the European Commission at the renewal of the
Fourth Geneva Convention The Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, more commonly referred to as the Fourth Geneva Convention and abbreviated as GCIV, is one of the four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It was adopted in Augus ...
governing the ACP-EU Partnership for the period 1995–1999. Recalled to Burkina Faso in January 1999, he was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs, a post he held until 2007. He represented Africa at the launch in March 1999 of the US – Africa Partnership for 21st century, with President Bill Clinton. At this time the Burkina Faso held the presidency of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). He strongly supported the preferential agreement proposed by the United States to promote trade relations with Africa (AGOA) and the creation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. He also organized Burkina second ministerial meeting implementation of the Africa – European Union (2002), and the tenth Francophonie Summit (2004). Ouédraogo was elected to the National Assembly again in the 2007 parliamentary election as a candidate of the CDP from Bam Province. In the government of Prime Minister Tertius Zongo, which was appointed on 10 June 2007, he was replaced as Foreign Minister by Djibrill Bassolé.


International organisations

In September 2007, he became Special Adviser to the President of the African Development Bank. He was in charge of political and diplomatic issues. He was appointed to that position to deepen and/or expand the partnership between the Bank and its Member States, Regional Economic Communities and international institutions. He also defended a stronger partnership between the Maghreb and Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2016, he was elected associated member of the Royal Academies for Science and Arts of Belgium. His induction took place on 28 May during an official ceremony at the Academy Palace of Belgium where he held a speech on behalf of all new members.


Death

Ouédraogo died on 18 November 2017 at the age of 64.Décès de l'ex-Premier ministre Youssouf Ouédraogo du Burkina


Decorations

*Silver Medal (today, Command-officer) of Burkina Faso Revolution's Torch (4 August 1985) *Title of Grand Officer of the National Order of Burkina Faso (11 December 1994) *Commander-in-chief in the Order of Mono of Togo (1 March 2008) *Title of Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown of Belgium (22 July 2005)


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ouedraogo, Youssouf 1952 births 2017 deaths Members of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso Ambassadors of Burkina Faso to the United Kingdom Ambassadors of the Burkina Faso to the European Union Ambassadors of Burkina Faso to Luxembourg Ambassadors of Burkina Faso to the Netherlands Prime Ministers of Burkina Faso Foreign ministers of Burkina Faso Ambassadors of Burkina Faso to Belgium Congress for Democracy and Progress politicians People from Centre-Nord Region Burkinabé Muslims 21st-century Burkinabé people