CONGO

      Keys events

1960 (15 August)

Proclamation of the independence of Congo. Father Fulbert Youlou is President of the Republic of Congo-Brazzaville.

1961 (2 May)

Constitution adopted.

1963 (13/15 August)

“Les Trois Glorieuses” days of revolution. Fulbert Youlou resigns. Formation of a National Council of the Revolution. Alphonse Massemba-Débat head of the provisional government.

1963 (8 December)

2^nd Constitution adopted.

1963 (19 December)

Alphonse Massemba-Débat is President of the Republic.

1966 (10 January)

The primacy of the National Movement of the Revolution as the single party of government is made official.

1968 (13 January)

Ambroise Noumazalay appointed Prime Minister in place of Pascal Lissouba.

1968 (31 July)

Army overthrows President Massemba-Débat, only to call him back a few days later. He puts together a new government. Creation of the National Council of the Revolution (CNR) presided over by Captain Marien Ngouabi.

1968 (16 August)

Constitution abrogated, replaced by the Fundamental Act.

1968 (22 August)

Captain Alfred Raoul appointed Prime Minister of the transition government.

1968 (4 September)

Resignation of Massemba-Débat. Captain Raoul becomes Chief of State.

1969 (1 January)

Marien Ngouabi appointed Chief of State.

1969 (29/31 Dec.)

A new party, the PTC, replaces the MNR. Its President is Marien Ngouabi, the Chief of State.

1969 (31 December)

Adoption of the new Constitution that does not allow for a National Assembly. The Republic of Congo-Brazzaville becomes the People’s Republic of Congo.

1970 (23 March)

Attempted coup d’état led by Lieutenant Kikanga.

1970 (16 June)

Diplomatic relations re-established (broken off since 1968) between the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa) and the People’s republic of Congo (Brazzaville).

1972 (22 February)

Attempted coup d’état led by Ange Diawara.

1975 (11 December)

Destitution of the politburo of the PCT, replaced by a “special revolutionary leadership”. Louis Sylvain Gouma is appointed Prime Minister in place of Henri Lopes.

1977  (18 March)

Assassination of Marien Ngouabi. Former President Massemba-Débat is accused of being involved in this assassination and is executed on 25 March.

1977 (5 April)

Colonel Joachim Yhombi-Opango becomes Chief of State. Louis Sylvain Goma remains Prime Minister. A Fundamental Act is passed suspending the Constitution.

1979 (5 February)

Joachim Yhombi-Opango is overthrown. Colonel Denis Sassou Nguesso appointed Chief of State by the PCT.

1979 (8 July)

Constitution adopted by referendum.

1984 (30 July)

Colonel Denis Sassou Nguesso re-elected President of the Republic and President of the Central Committee of the PCT. On 7 August, Ange Edouard Poungui appointed Prime Minister.

1989 (August)

Alphonse Souchlaty-Poaty appointed Prime Minister.

1990 (30 September)

Multi-party system introduced.

1990 (3 December)

Resignation of Alphonse Souchlaty-Poaty. Replaced by Louis Sylvain Goma.

1990 (10 December)

Extraordinary Congress of the PCT. The party drops all reference to Marxism-Leninism.

1991 (25 Feb/10 Jun)

National Conference. Appointment of Anbdré Milongo as Prime Minister. Sassou Nguesso Chief of State but without any power.

1992 (22 January)

Under pressure from the military, André Milongo sets up a government of national union.

1992 (15 March)

Adoption of the new Constitution by referendum).

1992 (24 Jun/19 Jul)

General elections. The Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS) wins 398 seats out of 125, the Congolese Movement for Development and Integral Development (MCDDI) 29 seats and the PCT 19;

1992 (16 August)

Presidential Election. Pascal Lissouba (UPADS) elected with 61.32% of the votes ahead of Bernard Kolélas (36.68%) of the MCDDI. The new President appoints Stéphane Maurice Bongho-Nouarra Prime Minister.

1992 (17 November)

Dissolution of the National Assembly.

1992 (30 November)

Anti-government demonstrations.

1992 (6 December)

Appointment of a new Prime Minister Claude-Antoine Dacosta.

1993 (2 May /6 Jun)

General elections. Disturbances in Brazzaville. Second round of elections cancelled.

1993 (23 June)

Former President Yhombi-Opango appointed Prime Minister)

1993 (3/6 October)

Second round of the general elections.

1993 (3 Nov.) - 1994

Clashes between the army and the opposition, between rival militia groups. State of civil war.

1994 (28 May)

Adoption of law on decentralisation of local authorities.

1995 (1 September)

Adoption of law liberalising radio and television.

1995 (13 January)

General Opanga kept on as Prime Minister after giving his resignation.

1995 (24 December)

Peace pact signed between the Presidential movement and the opposition.

1996 (15-16 Feb.)

Mutiny of a part of the army in Brazzaville.

1996 (27 August)

David Charles Ganao appointed Prime Minister.

1997 (June)

Clashes in Brazzaville between the army and militia of former President Sassou Nguesso.

1997 (21 July)

The Constitutional Council decides to postpone the presidential election, initially set for 27 July and to extend the term of office of the President.

1997 (August)

Intensified combats in Brazzaville and extension of conflict towards the north of the country.

1997  (10 September)

Bernard Kolélas appointed Prime Minister.

1997 (14 September)

Supporters of Sassou Nguesso in control of the whole of the north and centre. Meeting in Libreville of the representatives of nine African countries to try to curb the conflict.

1997 (16 September)

Failure of the Libreville summit. Fighting continues.

1997 (October)

Vast offensive by the supporters of Sassou Nguesso against the forces of Pascal Lissouba. Victory of Sassou Nguesso.

1997 (25 October)

Denis Sassou Nguesso invests himself President of the Republic.

1998 (5-12 January)

The Forum on National Unity and Reconciliation gathers together 850 delegates from the political parties. The transition period is set at three years. The elections are to be held in 2000.

1998 (16 November)

The Congolese government issues arrest warrants against Mr Lissouba and the former prime Minister Bernard Kolélas.

1998 (December)

Violent clashes in Brazzaville between the Congolese army and the Ninja militia of Bernard Kolélas. Thousands flee the capital. The Angolan army provides support to President Sassou Nguesso.

1999 (29 December)

“Agreement to cease hostilities” between the army and rebel militia.

2000 (February)

Hundreds of Ninja rebels surrender.

Up-date currently in preparation.

Sources used

Afrique contemporaine, quarterly review (La Documentation Française)

AFP Afrique: daily news bulletin from Africa –Agence France Presse

Press Files from the CEAN Document Centre.

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