Basile Ikouébé


Basile Ikouébé is a Congolese diplomat who served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2007 to 2015. Previously, Ikouébé was Congo-Brazzaville's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1998 to 2007. He is a member of the governing Congolese Labour Party.

Diplomatic career

Working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ikouébé became head of its International Organizations Division in 1974. He was Principal Private Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1975 to 1977 and Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1977 to 1979. Subsequently, Ikouébé was Diplomatic Advisor to President Denis Sassou Nguesso from 1982 to 1992; in addition to that post, he served as Assistant Permanent Secretary to the Presidency beginning in 1987, while holding the rank of minister. From 1994 to 1995, he was Ambassador-at-large; subsequently he was again Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1996 to 1998.
Following his appointment as Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ikouébé presented his credentials to the UN Secretary-General on 11 December 1998. As Permanent Representative, he served as President of the United Nations Security Council in May 2006.
Ikouébé was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and La Francophonie on 31 May 2007, replacing Rodolphe Adada. During the campaign for the July 2009 presidential election, Ikouébé worked on President Sassou Nguesso's re-election campaign as his Spokesman for Diplomatic Affairs.
On 10 August 2015, Jean-Claude Gakosso was appointed to replace Ikouébé as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Gakosso formally succeeded Ikouébé at a ceremony on 25 August 2015. While transferring his duties to his successor, Ikouébé thanked Sassou Nguesso for having confidence in him and also thanked those who prayed for him while he was hospitalized for a month due to illness.