Michel Gbezera-Bria

Michel Gbezera-Bria (born 1 January 1946) is a Central African politician and diplomat. He was Prime Minister of the Central African Republic from 1997 to 1999. He is currently the CAR Ambassador to France.

Early life Gbezera-Bria was born in Bossangoa on 1 January 1946. He is a member of the Gbaya ethnic group. He was educated at College Emile Gentil in Bangui and studied law in Brazzaville. Gbezera-Bria later studied economics at Institut d'administration publique in Caen, France. He worked as a lawyer before entering politics.

Political career Jean Bedel Bokassa named Gbezera-Bria deputy minister of diplomatic and consular delegations and payment of public debt on 9 June 1975. On 4 April 1976, Gbezera-Bria was appointed deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. He became minister of public service, labor, and social security on 14 December 1976, serving until his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs on 18 April 1977. Gbezera-Bria served as foreign minister until 17 July 1978. Between 1980 and 1987 he was the Central African ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva and New York. Back in the Central African government, from 1988 to 1990 he was foreign minister and minister of justice. He served as private secretary to President Ange-Felix Patasse from 1995 to 17 June 1996, when he was again named foreign minister. Charles Herve Wenezoui was named head of his cabinet. Anicet Georges Dologuélé replaced him as premier 4 January 1999. He served as president of Ecobank Centafrique from 2007 to 2009. Gbezera-Bria received the award of the CAR merit in January 2012. On 8 January 2015, he was appointed ambassador to France by President Catherine Samba-Panza.