Mireille Kolingba
First Lady of the Central African Republic
In office
1 September 1981 – 22 October 1993
PresidentAndre Kolingba
Preceded byBrigette Dacko
Succeeded byAngèle Patassé
Personal details
Born
Mireille Kotalimbora

(1947-11-13)13 November 1947
Dolisie, French Congo (now the present-day Republic of the Congo)
SpouseAndre Kolingba
ChildrenTwelve
Alma materUniversité du Québec

Mireille Kotalimbora-Kolingba (born 13 November 1947) is a Central African politician who was the First Lady of the Central African Republic from 1981 to 1993 during the presidency of Andre Kolingba.

Early life and education

Born in Dolisie on 13 November 1947 with the name Mireille Kotalimbora, she studied at École nationale d'administration et de magistrature and graduated in 1970. In 1977, she received a master's degree in business management from the Université du Québec.[1]

Career

Kolingba entered civil service in 1970 and worked as head of staff of the Ministry of Justice from 1971 to 1974. Returning to the Central African Republic, she was reappointed as head of staff in 1979 and later became the cabinet head of the Ministry of Justice. She founded and led a women's organization Vie et espoir, in 1986. Afterward, she was elected as an MP representing Ouango in 1998. However, following the 2001 failed coup attempt, she and her three children took refuge at the French Embassy in Bangui and later moved to France in August 2001.[1][2] She returned to Bangui with her husband on 5 October 2003.[3] In 2005, she was reelected as an MP and encouraged the people not to vote MLPC party because it led to the return of Banyamulenge who would kill, loot, and rape during 2005 election campaign.[1][4] Nevertheless, she lost in the 2011 election.[1]

Personal life

Mireille Kolingba married Andre Kolingba in 1969, and the couple had 12 children. From 1975 to 1979, she lived in Canada, accompanying her husband, who worked as Central African Republic Ambassador to Canada.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Bradshaw, Richard; Rius, Juan Fandos (2016). Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic (Historical Dictionaries of Africa). Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 456.
  2. ↑ The New Humanitarian, The New Humanitarian. "Inquiry into abortive coup ends, report issued". thenewhumanitarian.org. The New Humanitarian. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Former Central African President Kolingba returns from exile". dialogue.national.free.fr. AFP. AFP. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Frère, Marie-Soleil (2011). Elections and the Media in Post-Conflict Africa: Votes and Voices for Peace?. Paris: Zed Books. p. 160.
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