Denis Sassou Nguesso

Denis Sassou Nguesso (born 23 November 1943) be a Congolese politician den former military officer who has served as president of the Republic of the Congo since 1997. He sana previously dey serve as president from 1979 to 1992.

Na Sassou Nguesso dey head de Congolese Party of Labour (PCT) for 12 years during ein first period as president. Ein daughter Edith Lucie Bongo marry Gabonese President Omar Bongo insyd 1989. He introduce multiparty politics insyd 1990, but be stripped of executive powers by de 1991 National Conference, wey remain insyd office as a ceremonial head of state. He stand as a candidate insyd de 1992 presidential election but dey place third.

Sassou Nguesso dey pass a new constitution via referendum insyd 2015 amidst calls for boycott then a dismissal of results by opposition leaders. De new constitution enable him to stand for anoda term. Sassou Nguesso be re-elected insyd de 2016 den 2021 presidential elections plus a majority insyd de first round.

Ein early life

A member of de Mbochi ethnic group, dem born Sassou Nguesso insyd Edou insyd de Oyo district insyd northern Congo, on 23 November 1943. Ein parents be Julien Nguesso den Émilienne Mouebara. Nguesso be de youngest child insyd de family. Ein poppie be a notable hunter chief insyd Edou. He receive primary education insyd Fort Rousset, now Owando. He study insyd Dolisie Normal College between 1956 den 1960.

Ein Military career

He join de army insyd 1960 just before de country be granted independence. He receive military training insyd Algeria. Insyd 1962, he return to Congo den be reassigned to active duty plus de rank of second lieutenant. A year later, he dey join de Application School for Infantry, at Saint-Maixent-l'École, France whence he graduate plus de rank of lieutenant. He return to join Congo ein elite paratroop regiment. He be one of de first officers of de Airborne Group, de first paratroop battalion of de Congolese Army, which be created by Marien Ngouabi insyd 1965. He command de Airborne Group, de army den de Brazzaville Military Zone (ZAB), den then dey head de Intelligence department of de State Security Services. He become captain, then commander, den be promoted to colonel (1978) den later as army general (1989).

Political career

1963–1979: Early political career

Na he be part of de 1968 military coup dat overthrow president Massemba Debat den bring Marien Ngouabi to power. Na he be a founding member of de National Revolution Council (Conseil National de la revolution) insyd December 1968.

Insyd 1968, Sassou Nguesso take part insyd de military coup lead by Commander Marien Ngouabi against Debat: Na he be a member of de Congolese National Revolution Council (Conseil National de la révolution) establish on 5 August 1968. Under de leadership of Marien Ngouabi, de group limited de president ein powers, before de latter finally resign on 3 September 1968. Ngouabi officially become head of state insyd January 1969.

Insyd December 1969, Sassou Nguesso be elected as a member of de first central committee of de new Congolese Labor Party (Parti Congolais du travail, PCT). E be a communist party plus a Marxist–Leninist doctrine. E be headed by Marien Ngouabi as president of de central committee, president of de republic den head of state.

A new constitution be issued on 31 December 1969, which designate de country as de People ein Republic of Congo.

Insyd March 1970, following a failed coup attempted by Pierre Kinganga, a former lieutenant who be exiled insyd de neighboring Congo-Kinshasa, an extraordinary session of de PCT ein congress be held, during which Sassou Nguesso integrate de political bureau of de PCT.

On 18 May 1973, Sassou Nguesso, who had been corps commander of de airborne group, be made Director of State Security.

Insyd 1975, amid an economic crisis, an extraordinary session of de PCT central committee be summoned. De eight members of de political bureau dey resign den be replaced by a restricted "Revolutionary Special General Staff" (Etat major spécial révolutionnaire), composed of five members, wey include Sassou Nguesso, den dey head by Marien Ngouabi. At de end of de extraordinary session, Marien Ngouabi dey ask Sassou Nguessou den five oda members for a report on de economic den political situation. De paper become known as de "Declaration of 12 December 1975". E recommend de "radicalization" of de revolution.

Insyd de same period, he be appointed Minister of Defense den Security at age 32.

On 18 March 1977, president Marien Ngouabi be assassinated. Official media dey stated dat de assassination be conducted by a commando group led by Capt. Barthelemey Kikadidi. Odas claim dat de assassination be plotted by military officers insyd de close circle of power.

A Military Committee of de Congolese Labor Party (Comité militaire du PCT) composed of eleven officers den dey lead by Major Sassou Nguesso immediately take power den repeal de 1973 constitution. Sassou Nguesso act as interim head of state from 18 March to 6 April 1977, then he concede ein position to general Joachim Yhombi-Opango, who become president. Sassou Nguesso dey hold de position of 1st vice president of de committee, while retaining ein position of minister of defense.

Shortly after de Ngouabi assassination, Massamba-Debat den ein former prime minister Pascal Lissouba be arrested den accused by a courts-martial of plotting de assassination. Massamba-Debat be executed on 25 March 1977. Sassou Nguesso be appointed provisional president on 8 February, before being confirmed, during a special congress on 31 March 1979 as head of de central committee, President of de Republic, head of state den President of de council of ministers, for five years.

On 8 July 1979, general elections be held den confirmed de PCT as the dominant political force: de Congolese Labor Party win all de seats insyd de People ein National Assembly. A new constitution be adopted by referendum, confirming de socialist foundations of de country.

1979–1991: First three presidential terms

As de newly elected president, Sassou Nguesso negotiate loans from de International Monetary Fund den allow foreign investors from France den de Americas to conduct oil den mineral extraction.

Although he be considered by French diplomats as representative of de radical wing of de PCT den as de Soviet Union den Cuba ein man, Sassou Nguessou develope den maintained strong relationships plus France on which he dey rely to support de flagging economy. De French oil company Elf Aquitaine play an important role insyd de exploitation of Congolese oil fields dat lead to de doubling of oil production den insyd supporting Congolese government expenses via pre-financing loans.

He dey visit France insyd October 1979 den insyd July 1981 to seek economic support. Insyd October 1980, high-ranking French political figures, wey include then-President Valery Giscard d'Estaing den former prime ministers Jacques Chirac den Pierre Messmer, be guests to de celebration of de centenary of de establishment of Brazzaville.

Insyd May 1980 Sassou Nguessou sign a twenty-year friendship pact plus de Soviet Union den insyd de same year, he dey send two delegations to China while a Chinese minister visit Brazzaville. However, de economic impact of these relationships remain marginal: France provided up to 50% of de country ein foreign den while de Soviet Union ein contribution do not exceed 1.5%.

Sassou Nguesso be re-elected for a five-year term as President of de PCT Central Committee den President of de Republic at de party ein Third Ordinary Congress on 27–31 July 1984, He dey announce de release of Yhombi-Opango. He serve as Chairman of de Organization of African Unity from 1986 to 1987. Insyd late 1987 he face down a serious military revolt insyd de north of de country plus French aid.

At de PCT ein Fourth Ordinary Congress on 26–31 July 1989, Sassou Nguesso be re-elected as President of de PCT Central Committee den President of de Republic, den de PCT win all of de seats of de People ein National Assembly.

He introduce multiparty politics insyd 1990 den be then stripped of executive powers by de 1991 National Conference, wey remain insyd office as a ceremonial head of state. He stand as a candidate insyd de 1992 presidential election but dey place third.

Insyd February 1991, a national conference begin; de opposition gain control of de conference. De conference ein declaration of ein own sovereignty no be challenged by Sassou Nguesso. He be subjected to serious criticism den allegations during de Conference, wey include a claim from some delegates dat he be involved insyd Ngouabi ein assassination.

1992–1997: First Civil War and election campaigns

De first round of elections take place on 24 June, den de second on 19 July. Senate elections take place on 26 July. Insyd de parliamentary election of June–July 1992, de PCT win only 19 of 125 seats insyd de National Assembly; de Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS) lead by former prime minister Pascal Lissouba, be de largest party. But e can not obtain an absolute majority insyd de National Assembly, plus de Congolese Movement for Democracy den Integral Development (MCDDI) lead by former army General Bernard Kolelas insyd second position.

Insyd de August 1992 presidential election, Sassou Nguesso be eliminated insyd de first round, placing third plus 17% of de vote. He fare poorly everywhere except de north. De second round be held between Lissouba (UPADS) den Kolelas (MCDDI); Sassou Nguesso dey back Lissouba, who win insyd de second round plus 61.32% of de vote.

Lissouba become President of de Republic on 31 August den a new Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Stephane Bongho-Nouarra of UPADS, be formed on 7 August. Insyd de meantime, a new alliance of seven parties, wey include de MCDDI den de Rally for Democracy den Social Progress (RDPS) be constituted. E dey soon be joined by de PCT, which be unhappy plus de distribution of ministerial portfolios, thus ensuring a new parliamentary majority.

On 31 October, de National Assembly approved a motion of no confidence against Bongho-Nouarra who dey resign. On 17 November, President Lissouba dissolve Parliament, announcing elections to break de deadlock. Insyd December, Claude Antoine Dacosta be appointed prime minister at de head of a transitional government.

Civil war dey start insyd November 1993, when de opposition parties (UDR and PCT) contest de results of de parliamentary elections (October 1993) giving victory to de coalition wey e support President Lissouba (Tendance présidentielle). Armed militia wey support President Lissouba (Cocoyes, Zoulous and Mambas) dey clash plus Kolelas ein Ninjas den Sassous Nguesso ein Cobras. De conflict dey end insyd December 1995, but leave at least 2,000 dead den more than 100,000 displaced.

After dis episode Sassou Nguesso dey spend seven months insyd Paris insyd 1996, returning on 26 January 1997 to contest de presidential election scheduled for July.

1997–2008: Second Civil War and return to the presidency

De second round of de civil war dey erupt a few weeks before de presidential election.

Insyd May 1997, a visit by Sassou Nguesso to Owando, Yhombi-Opango ein political stronghold, lead to de outbreak of violence between ein supporters den those of Yhombi-Opango. On 5 June 1997, government forces surrounded Sassou Nguesso ein home insyd de Mpila section of Brazzaville, attempting to arrest Pierre Aboya den Engobo Bonaventure, who had been implicated insyd de violence. Fighting break out between government forces den Cobras, which lead to de second civil war.

At de beginning of de conflict, Kolelas ein militia remain neutral, but on 8 September 1997, he join de president ein camp den become prime minister. On 18 September, Angolan troops den airforce enter de battle, providing significant support to Sassou Nguesso. By 14 October a final assault cover by Angolan MiG aircraft be launched on de Presidential Palace den neighborhoods insyd south Brazzaville, then on Pointe Noire, against de President ein militias (Zoulou, Cocoys, Aubervillois and Mambas) den de Ninjas.

By October, Sassou Nguesso be insyd control, while Lissouba as well as Kolelas den Opango leave de country. On 25 October 1997, Sassou Nguesso be sworn insyd.

He repeal de 1992 Constitution, den replace it plus a "Fundamental Act" dat concentrated power insyd de President ein hands. General Sassou Nguesso accumulated de functions of President of de Republic, Head of State, Head of Government, Minister of Defense den Supreme Chief of de Armies.

A government be announced on 2 November 1997; e dey consisted mainly of members den relatives of de FDU (Forces Démocratiques unifies, a coalition between de PCT den oda parties wey support Sassou Nguesso) as well as two members respectively of UPADS and MCDDI, who were not chosen by de presidents insyd exile.

He sana dey call for a national reconciliation forum. However, de idea be rejected by Lissouba ein followers who continue to strike into de region between de country ein economic capital, Pointe Noire den Brazzaville, having cut de railway between de coast den Brazzaville for three months. Insyd December 1997 heavy fighting resume insyd de capital ein southern suburbs (de Pool area) where de Ninja militia clash plus Congolese den Angolan troops den Cobra militiamen. As many as 1,500 may have been killed insyd de fighting, den thousands more fled to escape de violence.

De Forum for Unity den National Reconciliation be held from 5 to 8 January 1998 plus 1,420 delegates. E dey decide upon a transitional period of three years, to be followed by elections under a new Constitution. E sana form a 75-member National Transitional Council (NTC) to act as a legislative body. Members be elected by de forum by mid-January. However, violence do not end. By April 1998, militias oppose to Sassou Nguesso operate throughout southern Congo, coordinating demma operations. Insyd de beginning of 1999, violence dey resume insyd Brazzaville. Peace agreements be signed on 25 December under de auspices of President Omar Bongo of Gabon, ending de civil war, leaving 8,000–10,000 dead, around 800,000 displace persons den a devastated country.

Presidential elections be held on 10 March 2002. 12 candidates entered de race, but only seven remain throughout de electoral process., Two candidates be disqualified by de Supreme Court on 10 February 2002 while two (Martin Mberi den General Anselme Makoumbou) withdraw from de race, on 6 March, protesting a lack of transparency insyd de electoral process. On 10 March, two days before de election, Andre Milongo, seen as de main challenger, withdrew, sana citing a lack of transparency den calling for a boycott.

De elections pass peacefully den Sassou Nguesso win plus 89.41% of de votes. Serious malfunctions den acts of manipulation insyd a few electoral commissions be reported by de European Union Election Observation Mission, who reported dat these acts do not impact de final result, den called for de sanction of those responsible insyd order to prevent de situation from happening again insyd de next elections.

Sassou Nguesso was elected Chairman of de African Union, de OAU ein successor body, insyd January 2006. Ein election be de result of a compromise reach to prevent de chairmanship from going to Omar al-Bashir.

2009–2016: Re-election and constitutional referendum

Sassou Nguesso be re-elected as President of de Central Committee of de PCT at de party Fifth Extraordinary Congress insyd December 2006. He be re-elected insyd de July 2009 presidential election plus 78.61% of de vote amidst an opposition boycott. He say dat ein re-election meant continued "peace, stability and security", den he call for an end to "thinking like ... freeloaders" insyd reference to international aid. At ein inauguration Sassou Nguesso announce dat he will support an amnesty bill to pardon Lissouba, who dey go insyd exile after ein 1997 ouster den be convicted of crimes insyd absentia. Sassou Nguesso say dat he want de amnesty bill to be presented to Parliament by de end of 2009. As Congo-Brazzaville prepare to celebrate de 50th anniversary of ein independence from France insyd 2010, Sassou Nguesso note dat de country had far to go insyd fully realizing de dream of independence: "Our country will not be totally independent until our people be free of de yoke of poverty."

On 27 March 2015 Sassou Nguesso announce dat his government will hold a referendum to change de 2002 constitution, which will allow him to run for a third consecutive term. De proposal be overwhelmingly approved by voters, plus 92.96% insyd favor. Turnout officially be placed at 72.44%. However de opposition argue dat due to low turnout, de results should be annulled.

On 20 March 2016, Sassou Nguesso ran for a third consecutive term of 5 years den be reelected insyd de first round plus 60% of de vote.

Opposition leader Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas finish second plus 15 percent of de vote while retire general Jean-Marie Mokoko, a former security adviser to Sassou Nguesso, come third plus 14 percent.

For de first time insyd de history of de Republic, these elections were supervised by an independent commission (CNEI: Commission Nationale Electorale Indépendante). De opposition rejected de outcome, alleging fraud den calling for civil disobedience.

2021: Re-election

During de presidential election dat take place on 21 March 2021, Sassou Nguessou, who face six challengers for de presidency, come first once again, garnering 88.4% of de votes. Ein main challenger, Guy Brice Parfait Kolélas, finish second plus 7.96%, Mathias Dzon receive 1.92%, den de oda four candidates each receive less than 1% each.

Insyd December 2022, he attend de United States–Africa Leaders Summit 2022 insyd Washington, D.C. den meet plus US President Joe Biden.

African Union den de Libyan crisis

As de Chairman of de African Union High Level Committee on Libya, Sassou Nguesso stated, "De settlement of the Libyan crisis appears, more than ever, as an absolute urgency", especially because of de possible negative impact of terrorist groups insyd de south of Libya on neighboring states.

He declare "dis crisis dey remain, before any oda consideration, an African problem."

Controversies

Insyd September 2005, Sassou Nguesso den ein entourage of more than fifty people stay eight days at de Waldorf Astoria insyd Manhattan, New York, for Sassou Nguesso to deliver a fifteen-minute speech to de United Nations General Assembly. De Sunday Times reported dat de trip cost a total of US$295,000, plus thousands of dollars spent on room service alone. Sassou Nguesso be criticized by de Republic of Congo ein creditors, as he be insyd negotiations plus de World Bank den the UN International Monetary Fund to cancel Congolese debts, claiming inability to repay them.

Insyd July 2007, British NGO Global Witness publish documents showing dat de President ein son, Denis-Christel Sassou Nguesso, may have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars from de country ein oil sales on shopping sprees insyd Paris den Dubai. De documents show dat insyd August 2006, Denis Christel, who be de head of Cotrade – de marketing branch of Congo ein state oil firm SNPC – spent $35,000 on purchases from designers such as Louis Vuitton den Roberto Cavalli.

On 30 November 2020, Sassou Nguesso den four ministers issued a decree terminating a contract plus Australian mining company Sundance Resources to develop de Mbalam-Nabeba iron-ore deposit. Permits for de areas Avima, Nabeba den Bandodo be instead awarded to Sangha Mining Development, a subsidiary of Best Way Finance, a Hong Kong Corporation.

Sassou Nguesso dey support corruption den embezzlement of Congo ein wealth. Insyd de Pandora Papers, e be revealed dat he controll diamond mines which be some of de most valuable assets insyd de country.

Honours

National

• Grand Cross of the Order of Merit

Foreign honours

• Angola:
  • Recipient of de Order of Agostinho Neto (1992)
• Benin:
  • Grand Cross of de National Order of Benin (2011)
• Ivory Coast:
  • Grand Cross of de National Order of the Ivory Coast (2023)
• Portugal:
  • Grand Collar of de Order of Prince Henry (1984)
• Russia:
  • Order of Honour (2024)
• Senegal:
  • Grand Cross of de National Order of the Lion (2022)
• Togo:
  • Grand Cross of de Order of Mono (2011)

Sanso see

• List of presidents of de Republic of de Congo
• Robert Bourgi
• Lists of political office-holders insyd Congo