| Algerian statesman and diplomat Date of Birth: 15.06.1952 Country: Algeria |
Ramtane Lamamra is an Algerian diplomat and politician. In 2013, he was appointed as Algeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position he has held several times, most recently since 2021.
Lamamra graduated magna cum laude from the National School of Administration (ENA) in Algeria and from the National School of Administration in France. In 1975, at the age of 23, he interned at the Algerian embassy in Russia.
Lamamra's diplomatic career began in 1976 when he joined the Foreign Ministry, working in President Abdel Aziz Bouteflika's press service. He held various positions in the Information Department and served as Director of Press and Information from 1986 to 1989.
From 1989 to 1991, Lamamra was ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, as well as to the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). From 1992 to 1993, he chaired the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and served as Algeria's ambassador to Austria.
In 1993, Lamamra was appointed as Algeria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. From 1996 to 1999, he served as ambassador to the United States. As a specialist on Africa, he played a key role in various mediation efforts, including the crisis between Mali and Burkina Faso in 1985, the Western Sahara conflict, and the border dispute between Chad and Libya.
From 2003 to 2007, Lamamra was the UN Special Envoy to Liberia. He also served as ambassador to Portugal from 2004 to 2005 and as Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry until July 2007.
He was elected as the Chairman of the African Union Peace and Security Council Commission in 2008 and appointed as Algeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2013. In 2017, he joined the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation and was appointed as the African Union High Representative for Ceasefire in Africa.
Lamamra served briefly as State Minister and Diplomatic Adviser to the President in 2019. Following protests, he was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister again in March 2019, but was replaced by Sabri Boukadoum later that month.
In 2021, Lamamra was once again appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs. He has represented Algeria at various international conferences, including the Paris Conference on Libya in 2021.
In 2021, Lamamra called for France to "decolonize" its history. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the International Crisis Group and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.