PASCAL LISSOUBA

Pascal Lissouba was born in Tsinguidi, located in the south-western region of Congo, to Bandjabi parents. His early education took him to Mossendjo and Boko for primary school, followed by secondary studies in Brazzaville. His academic journey continued in France, where he studied at Lycée Félix Faure in Nice from 1948 to 1952, obtaining his baccalaureate. Lissouba then pursued agronomy at the École Supérieure d'Agriculture in Tunis, earning a diploma in agricultural engineering in 1956. His passion for biology led him to the University of Paris, where he completed his doctorate between 1958 and 1961. During this period, he also gained experience as a trainee at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and ORSTOM, later working as a researcher and lecturer.

Lissouba’s entry into public service came upon his return to Congo in 1962. Initially working within the Department of Agriculture, his talents quickly propelled him to a higher role as Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Water, and Forestry in 1963. Over the following years, he held several important political positions, including serving as Prime Minister and Minister of State for Planning and Agriculture. His involvement in politics continued even after the overthrow of President Alphonse Massamba-Débat, although a suspension of his political activities occurred from 1969 to 1971. Despite this setback, he remained a significant figure in Congolese politics, even becoming a member of the Central Committee of the Congolese Workers Party in 1973.

However, Lissouba’s political life was not without turmoil. In 1977, he was implicated in the assassination of President Marien Ngouabi, which led to his arrest and subsequent life imprisonment. He was released two years later but spent the following decade in exile in France, where he resumed his academic career, working as a professor of genetics and later with UNESCO in both Paris and Nairobi. His political fortunes changed in the early 1990s when a movement towards democracy in Congo allowed him to return home. In 1992, he was elected President of the Republic of Congo, leading the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS). His presidency, however, was marked by political unrest, and eventually, the country descended into civil war. After months of fighting, Lissouba was ousted in 1997 and once again fled into exile.

Following his overthrow, Lissouba faced trial in absentia in 2001 and was sentenced to 30 years of forced labor on charges of treason and corruption. Despite his political struggles, he continued to live in exile in Europe, where he spent his later years, primarily in Paris.

Lissouba’s personal life was as complex as his political career. He married twice and fathered eleven children. His daughters, Mireille and Danielle, played notable roles in his life, with one serving as his chief of staff during his presidency and the other becoming a university professor and writer.

Pascal Lissouba passed away on August 24, 2020, in Perpignan, France, at the age of 88 following complications related to Alzheimer’s disease.

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