Joseph Ouatebot

Joseph Ouatebot (born 9 September 1926) is a Central African politician, diplomat and teacher.

Life and career Born in Bobangui on 9 September 1926, Ouatebot became a teacher on 1 April 1943 and was posted in Carnot. On 25 September 1951, he became a member of the Mbaïki municipal council. Dacko appointed Ouatebot as minister of home affairs on 13 October 1959, a position that he served until 31 August 1960. On 25 September 1960, he was elected as a member of National Assembly from the MESAN party. Within the National Assembly, he was assigned as the vice president of the foreign affairs and national defense committee.

Ouatebot was elected as the president of Société mutuelle de développement rural (Mutual Society for Rural Development) of Mbaiki branch on 5 January 1961. Apart from that, he also became a member of the Economic and Social Council from 9 October 1962 to 1 January 1966. In the 1964 election, Ouatebot was reelected as a member of the National Assembly. Upon the successful coup in early January 1966, he and Alphonse Iro were the earliest National Assembly members who endorsed Bokassa. He then returned to the Central African Republic and worked as the director of the periodical Soukoula in 1974. On 12 September 1976, he was named as the director general of the Agence centrafricaine de presse (ACAP).

Awards Officer of Central African Orders of Academic Palms - 1 May 1972. 70px, Officer Order of Central African Merit – 1 December 1975.