The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

Born 10 March 1932 in Lambaréné, Gabon, Georges RAWIRI attended the Protestant Primary School in Ngomo before going to France in 1946 to attend Lycée Jean-Baptiste DUMAS in Alès in the Gard region, where he obtained a Secondary School Certificate in French studies. In 1956 he enrolled in the OCORA Studio School, graduating in 1958 with a Diploma in Broadcast Technology Management.

In July 1957, Mr. RAWIRI was hired as Head of the Technical Centre of Radio Garoua, in North Cameroon, where he founded the technical section. He returned to Libreville in October 1959 as Head of Technology of Radio Gabon, of which he is one of the founders.

In December 1960, he was appointed Director of Radio Gabon and, in May 1963, he played a very active role in creating Gabon's national television station, becoming the first Director of the newly-created Gabonese Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation.

Mr. RAWIRI was appointed Foreign Affairs Counsellor in September 1962, and by 1963, he was a senior Public Administration Officer. In 1964, he joined the Government as Minister of Information, Tourism, Post and Telecommunications. One year later, in 1965, he was appointed Ambassador and High Representative of the Republic of Gabon to France. On 26 September 1967, he was made Minister of State responsible for the Embassy of the Republic of Gabon in France, returning to Gabon in 1971 as Minister of State responsible for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

On 3 October 1973, Mr. RAWIRI was appointed Minister to the President's Office, and was promoted in 1974 to Minister of State for Economic and Financial Coordination at the President's Office, and Personal Representative of the Head of State.

Appointed Minister of State, Minister of Transport and Shipping on 12 November 1975, he was later named First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport on 8 March 1982. One year later, on 5 March 1983, Mr. RAWIRI was named First Deputy Prime Minister responsible for deputation in the Office of the Prime Minister, and Minister of Land, Rail, River and Lagoon Transport responsible for Social Communication. He also held the Water and Forestry portfolio after the last Cabinet reshuffle on 6 January 1987.

On 10 March 1997, Mr. RAWIRI was elected First Speaker of the Gabonese Senate. He is married and has two children.