Jean-Claude Gakosso

Jean-Claude Gakosso (born 25 July 1957) is a Congolese politician who has served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2015. Previously he was Minister of Culture and the Arts from 2002 to 2015.

Gakosso, an ethnic Mbochi, was born in Inkouélé, located in the Gamboma District of Plateaux Region, and studied at the Sorbonne in France. He was a lecturer on journalism at the Marien Ngouabi University in Brazzaville, and in 1995 he criticized a press law passed by the National Assembly, accusing the government of "working to restrict press freedom". After the June–October 1997 civil war, he was Adviser for Communication, Posts, and Telecommunications to President Denis Sassou Nguesso from 1997 to 2002.

On 18 August 2002, he was appointed to the government as Minister of Culture, Arts, and Tourism; he succeeded Mambou Aimée Gnali at the head of that ministry on 22 August.

In a ceremony at the Marien Ngouabi Mausoleum, Gakosso rekindled the eternal flame commemorating President Marien Ngouabi on 11 November 2002. The flame had been extinguished since the 1997 war. Speaking on the occasion, Gakosso said that he had prioritized the restoration of the flame when he took over as Minister of Culture because "it symbolizes the pain, resistance, self-sacrifice, and courage embodied by President Marien Ngouabi." At the time of the fifth Panafrican Music Festival in Brazzaville in July 2005, Gakosso was President of the Festival's Steering Committee.

While serving as Minister of Culture, Gakosso also served for a time as Interim Minister of Communication and Relations with Parliament, as well as Government Spokesman. His portfolio was reduced in scope on 3 March 2007, when he was appointed as Minister of Culture and the Arts.

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