Quick Facts
Biography
Ramtane Lamamra (Arabic: رمطان لعمامرة; born 15 June 1952) is an Algerian diplomat who has served in the government of Algeria as Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2013. Previously he was the African Union's Commissioner for Peace and Security from 2008 to 2013.
Life and career
Born at Amizour in Béjaïa Province, Lamamra studied at the École nationale d'administration in Algiers. He was appointed as Algeria's Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, as well the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, in 1989. He was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency from 1992 to 1993. Subsequently he was appointed as Algeria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in 1993, and he served as Ambassador to the United States from 1996 to 1999.
From 1 August 2005 until 7 July 2007 he was Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was elected as the African Union's Commissioner for Peace and Security in early 2008, taking office on 28 April 2008. He succeeded another Algerian diplomat, Said Djinnit, in that post.
Lamamra was appointed to the Algerian government as Minister of Foreign Affairs on 11 September 2013; consequently he left his post as AU Commissioner for Peace and Security.