Mahamat Kamoun

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Mahamat Kamoun, born on 13 November 1961 in N’Délé, is a Central African politician and financier. He studied finance at Boston University and worked as the Director-General of the Treasury under President François Bozizé. He later led the president’s cabinet under Michel Djotodia and advised interim president Catherine Samba-Panza before becoming prime minister.

Kamoun served as Acting Prime Minister of the Central African Republic from 10 August 2014 to 2 April 2016, becoming the country’s first Muslim prime minister. His appointment surprised the Séléka rebel group, who did not see him as a member. They boycotted the National Unity Government and even threatened to withdraw from the Brazzaville ceasefire.

As prime minister, he oversaw the December 2015–February 2016 presidential elections, saying that the warlords must accept the results and that elections can bring peace if they are democratic and credible. A month before the vote, he ordered a nighttime curfew in Bangui amid rising violence. After the elections, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra named Simplice Sarandji as his replacement on 2 April 2016.