Alpha Oumar Konaré

Alpha Oumar Konaré is a politician Malian. He was president of the republic of the Mali of 1992 with 2002 and is currently president of the Commission of the African Union.

Biography

Alpha Oumar Konaré was born the February 2nd 1946 with Kayes (Mali) where he attended the elementary school. It goes then to the Terrasson college of Ferns of Bamako, to the College of the Marists of Dakar (Senegal), to the Modern college of Kayes and, between 1962 and 1964, to the secondary Teacher training school of Katibougou. It makes its higher learning in history at the National university of Bamako (1965-1969) and with the Université of Warsaw (Poland) between 1971 and 1975.

It begins its professional path while being teacher with Kayes, then professor of college with Markala and Bamako.

In 1974, it is in charge of research at the Institute of the social sciences of Mali, then, of 1975 with 1978, chief of the historical heritage and ethnographic to the ministry for Youth, the Sports, Arts and the Culture. In 1980, it is named researcher with the Institute of higher learning of training in applied research (ISFRA), and professor at the Department history-geography of National university (ENSUP) of Bamako. During its career, it was responsible for several professional associations (Association of the Historian-Geographers of Mali, West African Association of the archeologists, Union of the Researchers of West Africa…). Between 1981 and 1992, it was consulting near UNESCO and of UNDP. It starts to militate politically as of its youth. In 1967, he is elected general secretary of Youth US-RDA (Union African democratic Sudanese woman-Gathering, the party of the president Modibo Keïta) of the National university of Bamako.

After the coup d'etat of Foamed Traoré, it becomes militant clandestine party “Parti Malian work”.

In 1978, believing in the will of opening of Foamed Traoré, it agrees to become its Minister for Youth, the Sports, Arts and the Culture. He resigns in 1980. Its action was marked by the management training and the organization of the sport in Mali.

In 1983, it founds and directs the cultural review “Jamana” and the cultural co-operative of the same name. In 1989, it founds and directs the daily newspaper the Echoes .

In 1990, it takes part in the creation of association “Alliance for the Democracy in Mali” (ADEMA) which it contributes to transform into political party by melting the ADEMA/PASJ “Alliance for the democracy with the African Mali-Party for solidarity and justice”. He is the first president and the delegate with the national conference of Mali in 1991 after the fall of Foamed Traoré.

In 1991, it created “Radio operator Bamakan”, the first free associative radio of Mali.

In April 1992, at the end of the democratic transition initiated by Tinder Toumani Touré, it is elected president of the republic, with 69,01 % of the votes to the second turn against Tiéoulé Mamadou Konaté.

He is re-elected for a second mandate in 1997 with the first turn with 95,9% of the voices vis-a-vis only one candidate, Mamadou Maribatrou Diaby. The principal parties of the opposition boycotted this poll to protest against the cancellation of the legislative elections.

With the national plan, its action is marked by the restoration of the democracy in Mali (in spite of the difficulties of the behavior of the general elections in 1997), the payment of the conflict with the Touaregs, the implementation of decentralization. But the economic difficulties persist as well as corruption.

It pays homage to the first president of Mali, Modibo Keïta by inaugurating a memorial with Bamako. Opposed to the Capital punishment, it commutes to prison with perpetuity the death sentences of Foamed Traoré and of his wife condemned for political and economic crimes before gracier in 2002.

On the international plan, it works for peace on the continent and regional integration. It chaired the CEDEAO (Economic community of the States of West Africa) and UEMOA (economic Union and monetarist West African) in 1999 and 2000.

In 2002, it respects the constitution Malian which limits the number of presidential mandate to two. Amadou Toumani Touré will succeed to him.

Alpha Oumar Konaré is elected president of the commission of the African Union on July 10th 2003 by the Heads of African States joined together at the top of Maputo.

He is member of the High council of the Francophonie.

He is Docteur Honoris Causa of the University Rennes 2 High Brittany Alpha Oumar Konaré is married with the writer and historian Adame Ba Konaré

Its international implication

Alpha Oumar Konaré also counts among the founding members of the ethical, political and scientific Collegium international.

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