Adieu in the Green Room
On Tuesday afternoon, 3 October, the sun filtered through the Green Room of Congo’s embassy in Paris as diplomats, local staff and invited guests gathered for an emotional rite of passage: the farewell to outgoing minister counsellor Jean Félix Mokiemo after six years of service.
Ambassador Rodolphe Adada presided, flanked by advisers, secretaries and attachés who form the daily backbone of the mission. Laughter, camera flashes and the scent of Congolese coffee filled the air, yet a respectful hush settled when Adada tapped the microphone and began the ceremony.
Jean Félix Mokiemo’s Six-Year Legacy
“My friend thought he had dug his well in Paris, but duty calls again,” the ambassador smiled, reminding colleagues that diplomatic postings rotate like seasons. Mokiemo had juggled chancery affairs, political dossiers and high-level contacts, roles Adada likened to conducting a demanding orchestra.
The outgoing counsellor’s composure hinted at mixed emotions. He had steered the mission through presidential visits, cultural festivals and countless consular challenges. Applause thundered when Adada confirmed Brazzaville judged the task “successfully completed,” a phrase that landed like a medal on Mokiemo’s lapel.
Rodolphe Adada’s Praise and Perspective
Yet ceremony is forward-looking. Almost casually, Adada introduced Armand Rémy Balloud-Tabawé, the soft-spoken diplomat chosen to pick up the baton. He noted the handover had been prepared “with minutious care”, allowing the newcomer to shadow Mokiemo for several months before Tuesday’s public transition.
Balloud-Tabawé stood, bowed his head and invited the room to observe one minute of silence for colleagues “who have left the land of the living.” The gesture knitted community in a single breath, before he opened a well-worn notebook and delivered his inaugural address.
Enter Armand Rémy Balloud-Tabawé
“I speak with profound emotion and immense honour,” he began, recalling writer Amadou Hampâté Bâ: “Whatever the value of a gift, the only word is thank you.” The quote, aimed at Congo’s highest authorities, sparked approving nods across rows of dark suits.
He outlined a roadmap stretching from France to Monaco, Andorra, Portugal and Spain, the full extent of the embassy’s jurisdiction. The mission, he said, demands “reactive, innovative and inclusive” diplomacy able to defend Congo’s interests while smoothing administrative hurdles for citizens abroad.
Balloud-Tabawé pledged discipline, professionalism and a spirit of service under the mentorship of Ambassador Adada. “Paris is a pivotal post in Congo’s diplomatic architecture,” he observed, promising to keep an open desk and an even more open ear for Congolese students, workers and entrepreneurs.
Serving Congolese Citizens Abroad
Consular efficiency ranks high on his list. He wants shorter waiting times for passports, smoother registration for newborns and clearer guidance for those seeking to invest back home. “Every document delivered here is a bridge to Brazzaville,” he reminded staff seated behind stacked dossiers.
The newcomer also underlined cultural outreach: concerts during Fespam seasons, film retrospectives, and joint academic panels that showcase Congolese expertise. Such events, he argued, “tell our story better than any communiqué,” strengthening soft power alongside formal negotiations on trade or climate cooperation.
Teamwork and Discipline Pledged
Backstage, embassy veterans whispered that Balloud-Tabawé’s collaborative tone could refresh routines hardened by habit. The new counsellor answered curiosities with humility, repeating that he wished to “forge an exemplary team spirit, steeped in mutual respect, mutual help and excellence.”
Observers noted that message mirrors Brazzaville’s ongoing push for greater administrative modernisation, whether in ministries at home or in missions abroad. Embassies, after all, are not only showrooms but service counters, and efficiency abroad often shapes reputations back inside the country.
While the speeches flowed, a discreet staffer arranged two framed photos: one of Mokiemo signing a 2017 cooperation accord, the other of Balloud-Tabawé greeting students during his earlier stint in Lisbon. The images offered a visual bridge between experience gained and enthusiasm to come.
A Boost for Congo-France Relations
After closing remarks, guests queued for a buffet rich in freshwater fish from Pool and cassava cakes that reminded many of Brazzaville weekends. Mokiemo, visibly moved, assured colleagues he remains “a phone call away,” before handing Balloud-Tabawé the symbolic office key.
Looking ahead, the ambassador expressed confidence that the embassy will deepen cooperation projects already launched with French institutions, particularly in health training and energy transition, areas where Congo seeks partners and know-how. “Continuity with fresh ideas—that is our strength,” Adada summarised.
As diplomats folded flags and the Green Room emptied, one simple sentence lingered: “May God grant us wisdom and intelligence throughout our mandate.” In those few words, Balloud-Tabawé captured both the solemnity of the handover and the quiet optimism steering Congo’s representation in Paris.
