Republic of Mali

Biography

Born on 11 October 1955 in Bidi, in central Mali, Moctar Ouane studied at the University of Dakar, earning a degree in public law and, in 1982, a master’s degree in international relations. He continued his training at the École nationale d’administration (ENA) in Paris in 1992-1993.

He joined the Malian civil service in 1982, first at the General Secretariat of the Government and then at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He went on to serve as diplomatic adviser to the Prime Minister and to successive heads of state, including during Mali’s democratic transition of 1991-1992.

From 1995 to 2002 he represented Mali at the United Nations in New York. During Mali’s term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council (2000-2001) he twice served as President of the Council. Under Mali’s presidency in September 2000 the Council held only the second summit-level meeting in its history, on the Council’s role in maintaining peace, particularly in Africa.

Appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in May 2004, he was retained in successive governments until April 2011. As National Authorising Officer of the European Development Fund he signed many cooperation agreements on Mali’s behalf, and he represented the country at the African Union, ECOWAS and the United Nations. Peace and security in the Sahel-Saharan region and in northern Mali were a constant focus of his work.

In 2014 he joined the Commission of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) as diplomatic adviser, and in 2016 he became its Delegate General for Peace and Security.

On 27 September 2020 he was appointed Prime Minister of the Transition by President Bah N’Daw. On 19 February 2021 he presented the Government’s Action Plan to the National Transition Council. Reappointed on 14 May 2021, he was removed from office together with the President of the Transition on 24 May 2021 and released from house arrest on 27 August 2021. He has since withdrawn from political life.

Moctar Ouane is married and has three children.

Milestones

1. 1982
   Technical adviser, General Secretariat of the GovernmentStart of his public service career (1982-1986)
2. 1986
   Head of the International Agreements and Conventions DivisionMinistry of Foreign Affairs
3. 1986 – 1988
   Diplomatic adviser to the Prime Minister
4. 1988 – 1990
   Chief of staff to the Secretary-General of the Presidency
5. 1990 – 1992
   Diplomatic adviser to the Head of StateTo President Moussa Traoré, then to transitional President Amadou Toumani Touré
6. 1994 – 1995
   Political adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
7. 1995 – 2002
   Permanent Representative of Mali to the United NationsPresident of the Security Council in September 2000 and December 2001
8. 2003 – 2004
   Ambassador for international cooperation
9. 2004 – 2011
   Minister of Foreign Affairs and International CooperationIn the governments of Ousmane Issoufi Maïga and Modibo Sidibé
10. 2014
    Diplomatic adviser, UEMOA Commission
11. 2016
    Delegate General for Peace and Security, UEMOA
12. 2020 – 2021
    Prime Minister, Head of the Transitional Government27 September 2020 – 24 May 2021