Bernard Dowiyogo

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

1 Background and early career
2 President of Nauru
3 Personal legacy
4 See also

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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).

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

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.

[edit] Personal legacy

At a personal level, he was at first noted for being among the youngest of the world's heads of state 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]

[edit] See also

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

v • d • e Presidents of Nauru

DeRoburt • Dowiyogo • L. Harris • DeRoburt • Adeang • DeRoburt • Adeang • DeRoburt • Aroi • Dowiyogo • L. Harris • Dowiyogo • Adeang • Kun • Clodumar • Dowiyogo • R. Harris • Dowiyogo • R. Harris • Dowiyogo • R. Harris • Dowiyogo • Gioura • Scotty • R. Harris • Scotty • Stephen