Denis Sassou Nguesso : Ask Biography

Personal data

Date of birth

23 November 1943(age 72)

Place of birth

Edou, Oyo, French Equatorial Africa

Political party

PCT

Spouse

Antoinette Sassou Nguesso

President of Congo

Assumed office

25 October 1997

Prime minister

Himself

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

Succeeded by

Pascal Lissouba

Preceded by

Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya

Home | Office Holder | Denis Sassou Nguesso

Denis Sassou Nguesso (born November 23, 1943) is a Congolese politician who has been the President of Congo-Brazzaville since 1997; he was previously President from 1979 to 1992. During his first period as President, he headed the single-party regime of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT) for 12 years. Under heavy pressure, 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 at the conclusion of the June - October 1997 civil war, in which his rebel forces ousted President Pascal Lissouba. Following a transitional period, he won the 2002 presidential election, which lacked meaningful opposition participation; he was again re-elected under controversial circumstances in the 2009 presidential election.

Sassou Nguesso is backed by a variety of political parties, the most important of which is the PCT. He is the President of the PCT Central Committee.