13 Facts About Henri Lopes

Henri Lopes was a Congolese writer, diplomat, and politician.

Henri Lopes was Prime Minister of Congo-Brazzaville from 1973 to 1975, and became Congo-Brazzaville's Ambassador to France in 1998.

Henri Lopes received his primary education in Brazzaville and Bangui in Central African Republic, then went to France in 1949 for his secondary and higher education.

Under President Marien Ngouabi, Henri Lopes became Minister of National Education in January 1969 until becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs in December 1971.

Henri Lopes was included on the five-member Political Bureau of the Congolese Labour Party in December 1972.

Henri Lopes visited China in early 1975, but could not meet with Chairman Mao Zedong because Mao was ill.

On 26 October 1998, Henri Lopes presented his credentials as Congo-Brazzaville's Ambassador to France; while posted in Paris, he was additionally accredited as Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, and the Vatican City.

In 2002, Henri Lopes was a candidate for the post of Secretary-General of the international organization La Francophonie, but he withdrew his candidacy under pressure on the night before the vote, which was held on 20 October 2002 and resulted in the unanimous election of Senegal's Abdou Diouf.

In mid-2015, it was reported that Henri Lopes planned to retire from his post as Ambassador to France, which he did later that year.

Henri Lopes's most recognised work is the satirical novel Le Pleurer-rire.

Tribaliques received the Grand prix litteraire d'Afrique noire in 1972, and in 1993 Henri Lopes received the Grand prix de la francophonie of the Academie francaise for his entire body of work.

Henri Lopes wrote the words to "Les Trois Glorieuses", which served as the national anthem of the People's Republic of the Congo from 1970 to 1991.

Henri Lopes died in Suresnes, France, on 2 November 2023, at the age of 86.