Sassou Nguesso
| Denis Sassou Nguesso | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 5th President of the Republic of the Congo | |
|
Assumed office 25 October 1997 |
|
| Prime Minister |
Isidore Mvouba Clément Mouamba |
| Preceded by | Pascal Lissouba |
|
In office 8 February 1979 – 31 August 1992 |
|
| Prime Minister |
Louis Sylvain Goma Ange Édouard Poungui Alphonse Poaty-Souchlaty Pierre Moussa Louis Sylvain Goma André Milongo |
| Preceded by | Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Pascal Lissouba |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
23 November 1943 Edou, French Equatorial Africa (now Congo-Brazzaville) |
| Political party | Congolese Party of Labour (1969–present) |
| Spouse(s) | Antoinette Sassou Nguesso |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Denis Sassou Nguesso (born 23 November 1943) is a Congolese politician who has been the President of the Republic of the Congo since 1997; he was previously President from 1979 to 1992. During his first period as President, he headed the single-party régime of the Congolese Party of Labour (PCT) for 12 years. Under pressure from international sources, he introduced multiparty politics in 1990 and was then stripped of executive powers by the 1991 National Conference, remaining in office as a ceremonial head of state. He stood as a candidate in the 1992 presidential election but was defeated, placing third.
Sassou Nguesso was an opposition leader for five years before returning to power during the Second Civil War (1997-1999), in which his rebel forces ousted President Pascal Lissouba. Following a transitional period, he won the 2002 presidential election, which involved low opposition participation; he was re-elected in the 2009 presidential election. The introduction of a new constitution, passed by referendum in 2015, enabled Sassou Nguesso to stand for another term. He was re-elected in the 2016 presidential election with a majority in the first round.
Sassou Nguesso is backed by a variety of political parties, most importantly the PCT. He is the President of the PCT Central Committee.
A member of the Mbochi tribe, Sassou Nguesso was born in Edou in the Oyo district in northern Congo in 1943. His parents are Julien Nguesso and Émilienne Mouebara. Nguesso was the youngest children in the family. His father, Julien was a notable hunter chief in Edou. He received primary education in Fort Rousset, now Owando. He studied in Dolisie Normal College between 1956 and 1960. joined the army in 1960 just before the country was granted independence and was trained at the Ecole Militaire Préparatoire Général Leclerc (General Leclerc Military School) in the Congo. He was marked for prominence and received military training in Algeria. In 1962, he returned to Congo and was reassigned to active officers with the rank of second lieutenant. He also received military training in Saint Maixent, France, graduating with the rank of lieutenant, before returning to join Congo's elite paratroop regiment. He was one of the first officers of the Airborne Group, the first paratroop battalion of the Congolese Army, which was created in 1965. He commanded the Airborne Group, the army and the Brazzaville Military Zone (ZAB), then headed the Intelligence department of the State Security Services. He became captain, then commander, and was promoted to colonel (1978) and later as army general (1989).
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