DENIS SASSOU NGUESSO

Denis Sassou Nguesso, born in 1943 in Edou, northern Congo, is a prominent Congolese politician and the President of the Republic of the Congo. He belongs to the Mbochi tribe and grew up in a family where his father, Julien Nguesso, was a notable hunter chief. Sassou Nguesso received his early education in Fort Rousset, now known as Owando, and furthered his studies at Dolisie Normal College.

In 1960, just before Congo gained independence, Sassou Nguesso joined the army and received military training in Algeria. By 1962, he returned to Congo and was assigned active duty as a second lieutenant. He continued his military education in France at the Application School for Infantry, graduating as a lieutenant. Upon returning to Congo, he became one of the initial officers of the elite Airborne Group, a new paratroop battalion established by Marien Ngouabi in 1965. His military career progressed as he held various command positions, eventually rising to the rank of general.

Sassou Nguesso played a crucial role in the 1968 military coup that ousted President Massemba Debat, leading to Marien Ngouabi's ascent to power. As a key figure in the National Revolution Council, he later joined the Congolese Labor Party, which was under Ngouabi’s leadership. By 1970, he was a member of the party’s political bureau and was appointed Director of State Security in 1973.

Following Ngouabi’s assassination in 1977, Sassou Nguesso led a military committee that took over and repealed the 1973 constitution. He served as interim head of state and later as vice president of the committee. By 1979, he was confirmed as the head of the central committee and president of the republic, with the Congolese Labor Party enforcing a new socialist constitution.

During his presidency, Sassou Nguesso secured international loans and encouraged foreign investment in Congo’s oil and mineral sectors, particularly from France and the Americas. Despite being seen as a radical aligned with the Soviet Union and Cuba, he maintained strong ties with France, which played a significant role in boosting Congo’s oil production and economic development.

Sassou Nguesso was re-elected in 1984 and led the Organization of African Unity from 1986 to 1987. In the late 1980s, he began shifting towards a more capitalist economic model and introduced political pluralism in 1990. However, his presidency faced severe challenges, including allegations of involvement in Ngouabi’s assassination and a disappointing third-place finish in the 1992 presidential election.

The 1992 parliamentary elections saw Sassou Nguesso’s party win a minority of seats, leading to significant political instability. The ensuing civil war in 1993 was a result of contested election results and resulted in substantial violence. Sassou Nguesso returned from Paris in 1997 during a second civil war, with the support of Angolan forces, and regained control. He was sworn in as president on October 25, 1997, and repealed the 1992 constitution to consolidate power.

In the late 1990s, he faced ongoing violence despite attempts at reconciliation and peace agreements. Sassou Nguesso won the presidential election in March 2002 with a commanding majority. He served as Chairman of the African Union in 2006 and was re-elected in 2009 amid an opposition boycott.

In 2015, Sassou Nguesso proposed a constitutional change that allowed him to seek a third term. The referendum passed, and he was re-elected in 2016 amidst allegations of fraud. His 2021 re-election saw another landslide victory, though it was accompanied by accusations of electoral manipulation.

Sassou Nguesso has been active on the international stage, participating in summits with leaders from the US and Russia and emphasizing the need for peace in Libya.

Reference:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Sassou_Nguess