Bernard Dowiyogo

Bernard Dowiyogo
President of Nauru
In office December 22, 1976 – April 19, 1978
Preceded by	Hammer DeRoburt
Succeeded by	Lagumot Harris
In office December 12, 1989 – November 22, 1995
Preceded by	Kenos Aroi
Succeeded by	Lagumot Harris
In office November 11, 1996 – November 25, 1996
Preceded by	Lagumot Harris
Succeeded by	Kennan Adeang
In office June 18, 1998 – April 27, 1999
Preceded by	Kinza Clodumar
Succeeded by	René Harris
In office April 20, 2000 – March 30, 2001
Preceded by	René Harris
Succeeded by	René Harris
In office January 9, 2003 – January 17, 2003
Preceded by	René Harris
Succeeded by	René Harris
In office January 18, 2003 – March 9, 2003
Preceded by	René Harris
Succeeded by	Derog Gioura
Personal details
Born	February 14, 1946 Ubenide
Died	March 9, 2003 (aged 57) Washington, D.C.
Spouse(s)	Christine Dowiyogo
Children	Valdon Dowiyogo

The Honourable Bernard Dowiyogo MP
Member of the Nauruan Parliament for Ubenide
In office December 17, 1973 – March 9, 2003
Preceded by	Victor Eoaeo
Succeeded by	Russell Kun
Personal details
Born	14 February 1946(1946-02-14) Nauru
Died	9 March 2003(2003-03-09) (aged 57) Washington, D.C.
Nationality	Nauruan
Children	Valdon Dowiyogo, Jesaulenko Dowiyogo
Religion	Christian

HE Bernard Annen Auwen Dowiyogo (February 14, 1946 – March 9, 2003) was President of the Republic of Nauru.

Background and early career

He first became an elected member of Nauru's 18-seat parliament in 1973. Particularly in his earlier years in the Parliament of Nauru Dowiyogo was seen as an opponent of Nauru's first post-independence President, Hammer DeRoburt.

President of Nauru

He served his first term as President from 1976 to 1978 after ousting Hammer DeRoburt.

Over the next 25 years, Dowiyogo served as President several times, for periods as long as six years (1989–1995) and as short as 15 days (in November 1996). He was the youngest president in Nauru.

During the 1980s, he sharply criticized France and the United States for atomic weapons testing in Nauru.

He died in office in March 2003 (having been president on this occasion since January 2003) at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. from heart complications brought on by his struggle with diabetes, a common ailment on Nauru. At the time of the deterioration of his final illness, he had been engaged in protracted negotiations with the United States Government.

Personal legacy

He was one of the youngest heads of state in the world when elected as President of Nauru in 1976, but at his death in 2003 which ended a political career spanning about 30 years he was regarded as something of an elder statesman.

Valdon Dowiyogo, son of Bernard Dowiyogo, was appointed Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru in 2005.^[1]

First Lady

Dowiyogo's widow, former First Lady Christine Dowiyogo, died in March 2008.^[2]

See also

• René Harris
• Politics of Nauru

References

1. ^ 'Nauru elects a new Speaker', Radio New Zealand International, January 7, 2005
2. ^ "New speaker for Nauru parliament". ABC News. 2008-04-05. http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/200803/s2195476.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-05. ^{[dead link]}

Preceded by Hammer DeRoburt	President of Nauru 22 December 1976 – 19 April 1978	Succeeded by Lagumot Harris
Preceded by Kenos Aroi	President of Nauru 12 December 1989 – 22 November 1995	Succeeded by Lagumot Harris
Preceded by Lagumot Harris	President of Nauru 11 November 1996 – 26 November 1996	Succeeded by Kennan Adeang
Preceded by Kinza Clodumar	President of Nauru 18 June 1998 – 27 April 1999	Succeeded by René Harris
Preceded by René Harris	President of Nauru 20 April 2000 – 30 March 2001	Succeeded by René Harris
Preceded by René Harris	President of Nauru 9 January 2003 – 17 January 2003	Succeeded by René Harris
Preceded by René Harris	President of Nauru 18 January 2003 – 10 March 2003	Succeeded by Derog Gioura

Persondata
Name	Dowiyogo, Bernard
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	14 February 1946
Place of birth	Ubenide
Date of death	9 March 2003
Place of death	Washington, D.C.