Joseph Kalite (died 24 January 2014) was a Central African politician and doctor. As a government minister he either held the housing[1] or health portfolio.[2] Kalite, a Muslim,[1] was reported to be killed by anti-balaka outside the Central Mosque in the capital Bangui during the Central African Republic conflict.[1] He was killed with machetes on the day in Bangui after interim president Catherine Samba-Panza took power. At the time of the attack Kalite held no government position, nor did he under the Séléka rule. He was reported to have supported the rule of Séléka leader Michel Djotodia.[2][3]

Joseph Kalite
Minister of Housing and Accommodation
In office
2011–2012
PresidentFrançois Bozizé
Prime MinisterFaustin-Archange Touadéra
Preceded byHerbert Gontran Djono Ahaba
Minister of Public Health and Population
In office
5 April 2001 – 31 March 2003
PresidentAnge-Félix Patassé
Prime MinisterMartin Ziguélé
Preceded byRichard Lakoue
Succeeded byNestor Mamadou Nali
Minister of Agriculture and Livestock
In office
1999–2001
PresidentAnge-Félix Patassé
Preceded byCharles Massi
Personal details
Died(2014-01-24)24 January 2014
Bangui, Central African Republic
Political partyKwa Na Kwa
OccupationDoctor

Life

edit

Kalite is from Birao.[4]

Career

edit

Angel-Félix Patassé Presidency

edit

In 1999, Patassé appointed Kalite as a minister of Agriculture and Livestock. He held this ministerial position until 2001. Subsequently, Patassé designated Kalite as a minister of Health Public Health and Population from 2001-2003.[4]

During his two-year tenure as a public health minister, UN began a triple HIV/AIDS therapy program on 4 September 2002 and he laid the construction HIV/AIDS treatment and research center in Bangui in 2003.[4] [5] Moreover, Japan gave aid of US $4,163,079 to Central Africa Republic for the health sector.[6]

François Bozizé Presidency

edit

During the early year of the Bozize government, he was placed under house arrest on 26 July 2004. However, Bozize released him and appointed Kalite as his economic advisor on 7 July 2005. Later on, Kalite joined Kwa Na Kwa. In 2011, he was elected as a member of Assemblée nationale, representing Birao's second district.[4]

Bozize appointed Kalite as minister of housing and accommodation in 2011, replacing Herbert Gotran Djono Ahaba. As a housing minister, he initiated the creation of the Central African Housing Bank agency to improve housing in the Central African Republic.[4] On 28 December 2012, he was arrested on the accusation of aiding Seleka rebel groups.[7]

Death

edit

On 24 January 2014, the suspected Anti-Balaka militia asked Kalite to get out of the taxi. They attacked Kalite with machetes and sticks and he succumbed to death.[1] Nevertheless, Anti-Balaka denied the involvement in Kalite's assassination.[8]

Personal life

edit

He belongs to the Goula tribe and is a Muslim.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "CAR ex-minister hacked to death with machetes". Al Jazeera. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Former Central African Republic minister is killed by Christian militia". The Guardian. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Central African Republic attack kills Muslim ex-leader". CBC. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Bradshaw, Richard; Rius, Juan Fandos (2016). Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic (Historical Dictionaries of Africa). Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 361.
  5. ^ U.N. IRIN, U.N. IRIN. "Central African Republic President Initiates Construction of HIV/AIDS Treatment Center in Capital City". kffhealthnews.org. AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  6. ^ Centrafrique-Presse, Centrafrique-Presse. "Japan contributes US $4 million in medical supplies". thenewhumanitarian.org. The New Humanitarian. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  7. ^ CAP, CAP. "RCA-bozizie : arrestation d'un ministre accusé d'être derrière la rébellion". centrafrique-presse.over-blog.com/. Centrafrique-Presse. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  8. ^ Ndeke Luka, Ndeke Luka. "RCA : Dr Joseph Kalité n'est pas un séléka, selon ses proches". radiondekeluka.org. Radio Ndeke Luka. Retrieved 22 April 2023.