Charles David Ganao

Charles David Ganao (20 July 1926 – 6 July 2012) was a Congolese politician who served as Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo from 27 August 1996 to 8 September 1997. Ganao was born in Djambala, in the present-day Plateaux Department of the Republic of Congo. His family were high-ranking members of the Teke people. Ganao began his career as a teacher and elementary school principal, before entering diplomacy. He was appointed as the Republic of Congo's first ambassador to the United States and first permanent representative to the United Nations following the country's independence in 1960. Ganao then served as Congo's foreign minister from 1963 to 1968 and from 1973 to 1975. Ganao next worked at the United Nations, based in Vienna, Austria. He participated in the 1991 Sovereign National Conference, which eliminated the Congolese Party of Labour government, replaced the country's flag and national anthem, and removed the word "People's" from the official name of the Republic of Congo. Ganao also founded the Union of Democratic Forces political party.