frBiography of the President of the Republic
President Denis Sassou N'Guesso is a Congolese statesman who has served his country in the army and in government. He has been the current Head of State since 1997.
The President in a few key dates:
President Sassou N'Guesso was born in 1943 in Edou, in the district of Oyo in the Cuvette.
1960. President Sassou N'Guesso joined the army and received military training in Saint-Maixent, France and in Algeria.
1975. He was appointed Minister of Defense at the age of 32.
1977. From March 18 to April 2, Denis Sassou N'Guesso took over as interim President after the assassination of the President of the Republic, Marien Ngouabi, but refused to head the Military Committee which intended to ensure control of political power.
1979. Denis Sassou N'Guesso was elected president of the PCT following the Congress of February 5 and thus became the new head of state.
1986. Denis Sassou N'Guesso is elected current president of the Organization of African Unity and president of the ECCAS (Economic Committee of Central African States).
February 25, 1991. He decided to hold a national conference to set the date for presidential elections and to respond to the questions and anxieties of the Congolese people faced with the economic crisis and the political instability caused by the proliferation of political parties.
June 2, 1992. Denis Sassou N'Guesso, a candidate for his own succession, came in third place in the presidential election, behind Pascal Lissouba and Bernard Kolélas. He chose to support Pascal Lissouba because of his experience as a statesman.
June 5, 1997. Pascal Lissouba's troops surrounded his villa in MPila, Brazzaville. This attack marked the beginning of the second civil war in the Congo, which resulted in more than 10,000 deaths.
October 11-14, 1997. Denis Sassou N'Guesso's Patriotic Forces took control of Brazzaville.
October 15, 1997. Denis Sassou N'Guesso issued a message of national reconciliation so that the fighting would stop and the Congo could be rebuilt.
October 25, 1997 Denis Sassou N'Guesso was inaugurated President of the Republic.
2002. Denis Sassou Nguesso was elected president by the majority of the population.
2009. Denis Sassou N'Guesso is re-elected for a second term as President of Congo. President Sassou N'Guesso implements a vast program of economic reforms, including the construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure, the development of the agricultural sector, mining, telecommunications and the continuation of efforts to improve the business climate.
2016. President Sassou N'Guesso is re-elected for a third term as Congo's supreme judge.
Did you know that?
On December 13, 1988, in Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo, the "Brazzaville Protocol on Peace in Southwest Africa" was signed. This historic act marks the outcome of long and laborious negotiations between Cuba, Angola and South Africa, under the mediation of the United States of America. The Brazzaville protocol will thus make possible the signing of the December 22, 1988, New York agreements on peace in Southern Africa. All this will pave the way for: the withdrawal of Cuban and South African troops from Angola - the implementation of resolution 435/78 on the independence of South West Africa, which became Namibia - the end of apartheid - the advent of the new South Africa - the release of Nelson Mandela. The current President of the Organization of African Unity (1986-1987), Denis Sassou N'Guesso, made the dismantling of apartheid one of his priorities.
Did you know that?
In 2006, President Denis Sassou N'Guesso was elected for the second time to head the African Union.