History of the Republic of Congo

This article summarizes the history of the République of Congo of 1880 with today. The Republic of Congo is a country of Africa.

The Republic of Congo is sometimes called Congo-Brazzaville to avoid confusing it with the so called Democratic republic of Congo Congo-Kinshasa . The Republic of Congo was also known under the name of Popular republic of Congo of 1969 with 1992.

This country acquired its Indépendance in August 1960.

The French colonization of 1880 to 1959

The Colonisation will be exclusively French for this part of the territory. It begins in the last part of the years 1800, i.e. as from the years 1880, by the signature of a treaty between the King Makoko the French and colonizer Savorgnan de Brazza, with Mfoa (site included as a whole named Nkuna, future Brazzaville) on banks of the Fleuve Congo. This one (Savorgnan de Brazza), will dispatch emissary on the Atlantic coast for the conquest of new grounds, it is necessary to make quickly, these emissary will not arrive at their mission. Thus on March 23rd, 1883, that the lieutenant ordering the " sagittaire" , will sign a similar treaty with king Maloango, which shows very well that the kingdom of Loango was not vassal of any kingdom. Starting from this date, French colonization will be set up, of Right Bank of the Congo river, to the borders of the Gabon. The kingdom of my Ngoyo and that of the Kongo were already in close relationship with Portuguese. One can already without risk want to call the history into question, that the kingdom of Kongo had nothing to do with French colonization, and formation of current Congo, if not that an origin in the current settlement of this country. In 1885, to the Conference of Berlin, these famous treaties will be legitimated by the powers between them.

Since 1903, French Congo will become territory of Means-Congo

In 1910 Means-Congo, fact part of the whole of colonies of the general government of the French Equatorial Africa (AEF), the other territories are the Central Africa, the Gabon, and the Chad. The seat of the general governor will be fixed at Brazzaville. As from these years the territory of Means-Congo, will be delivered to the concessionary companies. These companies will have freehand in their respective concession. has they to develop the concessions in their possession, it is the forced period of the labor and the most abominable humiliations, which will cause a great agitation and will oblige with the constitution of a board of inquiry on the human conditions. the concessionary companies which are at the origin of this exploitation are for most important:

S.C.K.N. Concessionary company of Kouilou-Niari. C.C.S.O. Concessionary company of Sangha-Oubangui C.F.A.O. French counters of Western Africa SHO-Congo Company of Haut-Ogoué of Congo

In 1911 a first hydrographic mission starting from the Gabon, directed by the lieutenant Audoin, is launched, for the layout of a railroad to central Africa, of Brazzaville and which would arrive at Libreville.

This way will have to allow the evacuation of the raw materials of the territories of a.E.F without too many difficulties. Another possibility of layout was evoked by the detractor of the arrival with Libreville, two arguments with their advantage, long layout, and misses deep water with Libreville. The layout in the south offered the possibility of two deep water bays and to be shortest possible. It only remained to choose between Punta Negra and points Indian. it is what was made on July 13rd, 1914, the decree authorizing the construction of its two port and railroad Brazzaville on the river and Punta Negra on the sea, was done. The site of Punta Negra is selected for the port at sea, reasons Ci high and other reasons of which we will return during our matter.

In 1921, the first blow of pickaxe of the building work of its port and railroad will be given by the general governor Victor Augagneur.

In 1922, taking into account the choice of the site of Punta Negra, of the nature of transport and the considerations of colonial conquests, the decree creating the town of Point-Black is finally signed on May 22nd.

From the years 1950, and this until 1959, Point-Black becomes capital of Means-Congo, by sheltering the seat of the governor, the chief of the territory and the territorial assembly and the administrative services.

In 1958, precisely in November 1958, following the law tallies of Gaston Defferre of 1956, the territory of Means-Congo becomes the autonomous of Congo, and nonindependent republic.

In 1959, on November 21st, miles the first legislative elections have, following events which one can describe of rocambolesques and dramatic at the same time, the abbot Fulbert Youlou is elected Prime Minister for the republic of Congo, beating so Mr Jean-Felix Tchicaya, the first and single Congolese deputy at the French assembly since 1946.

Following the incidents having enamelled the legislative elections, the deputies of the UDDIA, having remained only in the room decide vote of the constitutional act, in the same night, transfer without debate and consultation the capital from Congo to Brazzaville, place more reassuring for the famous winners of these elections. Point-black ceasing of this fact of being the capital of Congo.

Congo of 1960 to 1992

August 15th, 1960, Congo will reach independence like the majority of the colonized countries of the Black Africa under French domination in Africa.

From 1960 to 1963, the abbot Fulbert Youlou, Prime Minister, becomes logically without election, First president of Congo. It will remain at this station until 1963.

In August 1963, during the events of the thirteen, fourteen and fifteen of the same month, the Youlou abbot is constrained to resign under the pressure of the trade unionists and his releasing by Gaulle.

From 1963 to 1968, Mr Massamba Débat Alphonse replaces the Youlou abbot with the report heading. this one, with its Cabinet, trained for the majority in the Western schools, will approach communist China as regards international policy, and will go until adopting the socialist option. For reasons of contradictions of opinions and quarrels of ideologies, president Massamba Debat will speak about socialism bantou, and a sole party, burying of this fact the management of the capacity by the elections. In spite of the option known as socialist of the mode, no interest and structure, colonial will be called into question. The economic policy will want to privilege the companies of State out of matters of equipment (housing etc) and the companies mixed. the private sector being always very powerful by the means of mining companies CPC (company of potashes of Congo) ELF Congo in the sector of oil and the exploitation of the wood which represents the first budgetary resource.

In 1965, return of Brazzavillois exulsés of Kinshasa by the government of Brace Tshombe.

In 1968, following a movement of some elements of the army, movement known as insurrectionary, Mr Massamba Debat is constrained to give its resignation.

December 31st, 1969, the captain Ngouabi (Marien) becomes president of Congo, this one reaffirming the socialist option of the country. Congo knows its second republic: popular republic. The administration will be centralized in Brazzaville and by the party, " the party directs État" is the slogan with the mode. In spite of its independence and the socialist option, Congo will remain a country with economy depending on outside, its economy will be that of exports of the rough raw materials (wood, potashes, oil, iron, etc).

March 18th, 1977, president Marien Ngouabi is assassinated in his residence of the State Major.

April 5th, 1977, colonel Joachim Yombi Opango, becomes president of the republic, and this until February 1979.

February 5th, 1979, colonel Denis Sassou Nguesso, seizes the power. It will remain with the capacity until August 1992. Generally, the successors of Ngouabi will not have changed the way of manages the businesses of the State, i.e. to be able monopartite, laxist, and centralizer on any scale, of all the political activity and administrative.

In 1991, following a national conference, and in spite of some mistakes, Congo adopts a constitution (March 1992) of semi-presidential type with elections of the persons in charge by managed. This new constitution recognizes an autonomy of management and inheritance to the local government agencies.

Congo of 1992 to 1997: first and second periods of disorders

With legislative from July 1992, the UPADS of Pascal Lissouba obtains 39 of the 125 seats of deputies, followed by the MCDDI of Bernard Kolélas with 29 seats then by the PCT of Denis Sassou Nguesso with 18 seats. Pascal Lissouba is combined with the 3rd man, Sassou. With presidential of the month following Lissouba is elected with more than 60% of the votes (August 16th, 1992).

But at the time of the talks for the constitution of the government, Lissouba proposes with its Sassou ally 3 ministries; inter alia Agriulture, the Sport. These stations are considered to be not only insufficient but also not important with the eyes of Sassou which summons its three foalta namely: Gregoire Lefoba, Isidore Mvouba and François Ibovi not to accept the offer.

In spite of this prohibition, Gregoire Lefoba makes defection and accepts the post of minister of agriculture. Sassou opposed by its foal is furious; frustrated by this defection, it changes camp and is combined in Bernard Kolélas, unfortunate 2nd presidential turn of the election. It is the beginning of arm wrestling between side president Lissouba and other the new alliance of the opposition under label URD-PCT and Related. This new majority coalition with the Parliament votes a motion of censure against the government in place which falls. Lissouba dependant feet and hands have other alternatives only to dissolve the Parliament. Demonstrations take place: 3 people succumb to shootings of police force.

It is the beginning of armed confrontations. Sassou provides a consequent logistic help to Kolelas which creates a militia of Ninjas (these militiamans for the majority result from the Pool, a department of the south; one will speak about " Ninjas of Kolélas"). Sassou on its side continues to be helped of the militia of the Cobras of the PCT. Lissouba, which notes that the army refuses to face the Ninjas, creates the militia of Cocoyes. In July 1993, Cocoyes and the Ninjas clash in the southern districts of Brazzaville (Bacongo, district of origin of several inhabitants of the Pool). It is the first civil confrontation. In 1994, to ensure Kolélas, appeasing the government integrates, like " opposition constructive".

In May - June 1994, a law known as of decentralization is voted, thus devoting the autonomy of management recognized in the constitution of March 1992. July 17th, 1994, new elections of the twenty sixth mayor of the city by the city council men elected officials in June 1992.

Sassou is hostile with the compromise d'" opposition constructive" and makes profitable this period to prepare a blow: from 1995 to 97, he travels much between his area of origin (Oyo, in north), Gabon and France. He meets in the north of many refugees, civilians and soldiers, of Rwandan origin (of which the militiamans " Power" Hutu;). Those, arrived with the HCR, even created their own villages in various places. Sassou takes them under its cut, and will integrate them within its Cobra militia, as instructors. Even the Rwandan civil refugees are trained with the engagements. In continuous parallel, Sassou to receive weapons from several adjoining countries (Franceville in Gabon, Angola). In 1997, Sassou wants to enter a city of north, Owando, on a traditional sedan-chair reserved only to the local dignitaries. The villagers oppose it. The Cobras, present, open fire and make several deaths. On the road of Brazzaville, Sassou stops in Oyo where it continues to make massacre the reducing ones of Owando.

June 5th, 1997, of the soldiers surround the residence of Sassou with Brazzaville, on mandate to bring of the prosecutor of Owando. Sassou, to the pretext of defend oneself, leaves an impressive armament (light tanks, guns) and attacks the Congolese army. (Of the French soldiers are also wounded and one killed during these confrontations against the Congolese army.)

October 15th, 1997 the war incivile of Congo sees the victory of Mr Sassou Nguesso this last helped by Angolan troops succeeds in seizing the power. the winner repeals the constitution of 1992.

Congo of 1997 with today

In 1999, to ensure appeasing, Denis Sassou announces the national reconciliation. It signs agreements with the Democratic republic of Congo and the HCR for the return of the refugees who had fled the civil war while taking refuge in Kinshasa.

First return of families (adult, women, children) has place by “crossing of Beach” (river shuttle which carries out the Brazzaville-Kinshasa connections), and includes/understands approximately 1500 people, under the control of the HCR. These people are challenged as of their arrival with Brazzaville, conveyed by convoys in camps, from where any trace will be lost. The rumors speak alive people piled up in containers, welded and thrown in the river!!! Only some families will dare to carry felt sorry for the disappearance of 353 people. It is the Affaire of the missings of Beach.

In 2002 a new constitution is adopted removing the post of Prime Minister, reinforcing the capacities of the president of the republic. The president is elected for a 7 years mandate renewable one alone time.

Always in the same year the election of the president of the republic takes place, Mister Sassou Nguesso was elected.

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