Joseph Kalite (died 24 January 2014) was a Central African politician and doctor. As a government minister he either held the housing or health portfolio. Kalite, a Muslim, was reported to be killed by

anti-balaka The Anti-balaka (''anti-machete'') is an alliance of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said by ''the Guardian'' to be composed primarily of Christians, but also some Muslims. However, some church leade ...

outside the Central Mosque in the capital

Bangui Bangui (; or Bangî in Sango language, Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities in the Central African Republic, largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a Fren ...

during the Central African Republic conflict. He was killed with machetes on the day in Bangui after interim president

Catherine Samba-Panza Catherine Samba-Panza (; born 26 June 1954) is a Central African politician who served as Transitional President of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016. She was the first woman to serve as head of state in the Central African Republ ...

took power. At the time of the attack Kalite held no government position, nor did he under the

Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél� ...

rule. He was reported to have supported the rule of Séléka leader

Michel Djotodia Michel Am-Nondokro Djotodia (born c. 1949) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2013 to 2014. He was the first Muslim to hold that office in the predominantly Christian country. Djotodia was a ...

Life

Kalite is from

Birao Birao is the capital of Vakaga, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic and was an administrative post in the colony of Ubangui-Shari. In March 2007, the town was almost completely burnt down in the fighting between rebels a ...

Career

Angel-Félix Patassé Presidency

In 1999, Patassé appointed Kalite as a minister of Agriculture and Livestock. He held this ministerial position until 2001. Subsequently, Patassé designated Kalite as a minister of Health Public Health and Population from 2001-2003. During his two-year tenure as a public health minister, UN began a triple HIV/AIDS therapy program on 4 September 2002 and he laid the construction HIV/AIDS treatment and research center in Bangui in 2003. Moreover, Japan gave aid of US $4,163,079 to Central Africa Republic for the health sector.

François Bozizé Presidency

During the early year of the Bozize government, he was placed under house arrest on 26 July 2004. However, Bozize released him and appointed Kalite as his economic advisor on 7 July 2005. Later on, Kalite joined Kwa Na Kwa. In 2011, he was elected as a member of

Assemblée nationale The National Assembly (, ) is the lower house of the bicameral French Parliament under the Fifth Republic, the upper house being the Senate (). The National Assembly's legislators are known as () or deputies. There are 577 , each elected by ...

, representing Birao's second district. Bozize appointed Kalite as minister of housing and accommodation in 2011, replacing Herbert Gotran Djono Ahaba. As a housing minister, he initiated the creation of the Central African Housing Bank agency to improve housing in the Central African Republic. On 28 December 2012, he was arrested on the accusation of aiding Seleka rebel groups.

Death

On 24 January 2014, the suspected Anti-Balaka militia asked Kalite to get out of the taxi. They attacked Kalite with machetes and sticks and he succumbed to death. Nevertheless, Anti-Balaka denied the involvement in Kalite's assassination.

Personal life

He belongs to the Goula tribe and is a Muslim.

References