List of heads of state of the Republic of the Congo
This article reproduces the heads of state of the Republic of the Congo since independence in 1960. The country is also known as Congo-Brazzaville after its capital and was called the People's Republic of the Congo from 1969 to 1992.
Surname | Beginning of the term of office | Term expires | comment |
---|---|---|---|
Fulbert Youlou | August 15, 1960 | 15th August 1963 | first president of the country; toppled by a coup |
Alphonse Massemba-Débat | 15th August 1963 | 4th September 1968 | came to power through a coup, he was driven out by one |
Alfred Raoul | 5th September 1968 | December 31, 1968 | headed a transitional government as prime minister of a military junta |
Mary Ngouabi | 1st January 1969 | March 18, 1977 | converted the country into a one-party state, was killed in an attempted coup |
Joachim Yhombi-Opango | March 18, 1977 | 5th February 1979 | followed his cousin Ngouabi; had to resign after internal party disputes |
Denis Sassou-Nguesso | 5th February 1979 | August 31, 1992 | forced his predecessor to resign; was voted out in the first free elections |
Pascal Lissouba | August 31, 1992 | October 15, 1997 | first democratically elected president; was overthrown in a civil war |
Denis Sassou-Nguesso | October 25, 1997 | officiating | came back to power during the civil war and has ruled the country authoritarian ever since |