Claude Alphonse Nsilou (born 1954[1]) is a Congolese politician who has served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of Trade since 2017. Previously he was Minister of Construction, City Planning, and Housing from 2002 to 2017. He is the President of the Citizen Rally (RC).
| Office: | Minister of State for Trade, Supply and Consumption |
| Termstart: | 22 August 2017 |
| Office1: | Minister of Construction, City Planning, and Housing in the government |
| Termstart1: | 30 December 2007 |
| Termend1: | TBD |
| Office2: | Minister of Construction, City Planning, and Housing |
| Termstart2: | 3 March 2007 |
| Termend2: | TBD |
| Office3: | Member of National Assembly |
| Termstart3: | June 2002 |
| Office4: | Minister of Equipment and Public Works |
| Termstart4: | 25 December 1992 |
| Termend4: | TBD |
| Office5: | President of Citizen Rally (RC) |
| Termstart5: | March 1998 |
Nsilou, an architect by profession, was born in Brazzaville. He was the President and Director-General of Sifroid and was a member of the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI), led by Bernard Kolélas.[1] In the power-sharing government of Prime Minister Claude Antoine Dacosta, Nsilou was appointed as Minister of Equipment and Public Works on 25 December 1992; this government served until a new parliamentary election was held in mid-1993.[2] Nsilou later became President of the RC, supporting the January 2002 constitutional referendum[3] and helping to direct President Denis Sassou Nguesso's campaign for the March 2002 presidential election.[4]
Nsilou was elected to the National Assembly in the May - June 2002 parliamentary election as the RC candidate in the fifth constituency of Makélékélé (part of Brazzaville),[1] [5] winning the seat in a second round of voting.[5] Following the election, he was appointed to the government as Minister of Construction, City Planning, Housing, and Land Reform on 18 August 2002;[6] he succeeded Florent Ntsiba at the head of that ministry on 23 August.[7] His portfolio was slightly reduced on 3 March 2007, when he was appointed as Minister of Construction, City Planning, and Housing.[6]
In the June - August 2007 parliamentary election, Nsilou was again elected to the National Assembly as the RC candidate in the second constituency of Bacongo (part of Brazzaville); he was the only member of the RC to win a seat.[8] After winning 43.13% of the vote in the first round, he faced MCDDI candidate Barthélémy Nkouka in the second round[9] and prevailed.[8] He was subsequently retained in his position as Minister of Construction, City Planning, and Housing in the government named on 30 December 2007.[6] [10]
Nsilou was moved to the post of Minister of State for Trade, Supply and Consumption on 22 August 2017.[11] [12]