Cassam Uteem

Former President of the Republic of Mauritius

Biography

Cassam Uteem is a Mauritian political figure who served as President of Mauritius from the 30th of June 1992 until the 15th of February 2002. On 15 February 2002 he resigned from his function, after refusing to sign a controversial anti-terrorism bill namely PoTA into the constitution.

He holds a Certificate in Social Work (Mauritius) and a Diplome d'Etat d'Assistant Social, Licencie-es-Lettres and Maitrise de Psychologie (Paris).

Mr. Uteem served as Chairman of the Port Louis Youth Federation from 1964-65, and Chairman of the Muslim Youth Federation in 1966. From 1971 until 1972 he served as Secretary-General of the Mauritius National Youth Council, and from 1971-1973 as Treasurer of the Mauritius Council of Social Service. From 1974 to 1976 Mr. Uteem served as Representative of the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) to UNESCO, prior to membership in the Mouvement Militant Mauricien (Mauritian Militant Movement), of which he became Deputy Leader in 1988. In 1992 he was elected President of Mauritius, in which capacity he served until his resignation in February, 2002.

Mr. Uteem is a member of the Club of Madrid He was a candidate for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission in early 2008, but withdrew prior to the vote and the Global Leadership Foundation.

'Democratic Participation and Cultural Inclusion in Multi-Ethnic and Multi-Lingual Societies"

A Lecture by President Caasam Uteem (President of the Republic of Mauritius, 1992-2002)
International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy
Institute for Cultural Diplomacy