Aimé Ngoy Mukena
Aimé Ngoy Mukena is a political figure from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who has served as Minister of Petroleum and Gas since 26 September 2015. He previously served as Minister of Defence and Veterans' Affairs under President Joseph Kabila. He is a founding member of the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), one of the most influential political parties in the Congo where he served as its Executive Secretary in charge of interior and decentralization. Mukena studied Political Philosophy at the University of Lausanne. Ethic, Theology and Human Resources Management at the University  of Geneva, and African Linguistics at ISP Lubumbashi. His past offices include Governor of Katanga (2001–2004), member of the national assembly (2006–2011), member of the boards of director at SNCC (2011). He is professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A professor by profession, Mukena has published a number of academic books and journal articles on political economy and philosophy. He is also known as one of the political heavyweights from the Southern province of Katanga. Early life and education. Aimé Ngoy Mukena was born in Lubumbashi, capital of Katanga province. He  received a PhD in Political Philosophy from the University of Lausanne in 1999, and a Post-graduate degree in Theology, Ethics and Human Resources Management at the University of Geneva. He also received a bachelor's degree in philosophy and African linguistics at ISP-Lubumbashi Career. Mukena worked successively at Gécamines, a mining company located in the Southern province of Katanga, the Fondation des Oliviers, the University of Lausanne and the Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of Congo to Geneva. Upon his return to the Congo, he worked as Member of the Constituent and Legislative Assembly in the Transitional  Parliament in 2000 and later worked as chairman of the board of directors of the Régie des Voies Aériennes de la République Démocratique du Congo (RVA). Between 2001 and 2004, Mukena served as governor of the Province of Katanga. In the 2006 general elections, he was elected member of the Congolese National assembly for a five-year term, ending in 2011. In September 2011, he was appointed as member of the boards of directors of the Société nationale des Chemins de fer du Congo. On 8 December 2014, he was appointed as Minister of Defense and Veterans affairs in the  new government. Following the reshuffling of the Government, Mukena was given the Petroleum and Gas portfolio. Aside from his political career, he also teaches philosophy and history of political and economic thought at the University of Lubumbashi.