Nagoum Yamassoum

Who is Nagoum Yamassoum?

Nagoum Yamassoum is a Chadian politician from the district of Grande Sido in the region of Moyen Chari. He was Prime Minister of Chad from 1999 to 2002 and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2005.

Yamassoum, who received a doctorate degree in political science from the University of Bordeaux in France, directed President Idriss Déby's campaign for the 1996 presidential election. After serving as President of the Constitutional Council, he was named Prime Minister of Chad on December 13, 1999; he had also previously served as Minister of Education and Minister of Culture. He served as Prime Minister until June 12, 2002, when he resigned and was replaced by Haroun Kabadi. In June 2003, when Kabadi's government resigned and a new government led by Moussa Faki took office, Yamassoum was appointed as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. He left that position in August 2005 when a cabinet reshuffle occurred.

Yamassoum was appointed as Chairman of the Board of the Hydrocarbons Company of Chad in November 2007. Later, as Secretary-General of the Patriotic Salvation Movement, Yamassoum was entrusted with leading the ruling party into 2011, a major election year—both parliamentary and presidential elections were planned. Critics argued that he lacked popularity with the party base. He was replaced as Secretary-General by Haroun Kabadi in January 2011, before the elections were held.