GOVERNMENT

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Since 1990, the Congo has undergone profound political changes. The entry of the US Peace Corps on the scene was one clear sign; another was the rupture in early 1991 of the longstanding alliance between the unions and the PCT. The economy stagnated from the government's oppressive foreign debt (which was 150% of GNP in 1989) and the events in Eastern Europe and elsewhere in Africa opened up the eyes of the Congolese. The government's popularity slumped to such an extent that Sassou-Nguesso was forced to call a national convention to establish a new political order. Glued to their TVs, the fascinated public saw delegate after delegate arise to publicly condemn the PCT and accuse its leaders of corruption; the humiliated president could do nothing.

In a great symbolic break with the past, the conference then adopted a multiparty democratic system, changed the country's name back to the Republic of Congo and resurrected the old red-and~orange flag. Later in 1991, Sassou-Nguesso was forced to hand over his principal authorities to Andre Milongo, who held the new post of prime minister, with Sassou-Nguesso nominally retaining his post as president.

In early 1992, Milongo made the tactical mistake of angering the army by dismissing the defense minister and reshuffling its leadership. Shortly thereafter, rebellious soldiers removed him from office and ordered the interim legislature to name a replacement. The transition government was restructured and the campaign for a new president was inaugurated.

The various parties in opposition to the PCT held huge rallies all over the country but they were in such disarray, with 18 candidates in the running, that it appeared Sassou-Nguesso would be re-elected. Sassou-Nguesso was no fool. Having sensed a change in the wind, he had become an avowed advocate of capitalism. Similarly the PCT tried to dissociate itself from its past hardline tactics and corruption by advertising itseffas 'le nouveau PCT' the new PCT) and 'le PCT renove' (the reformed PCT). Its major pitch was that the country needed a government of consensus, like that of a typical African village council, and in contrast to combative Western-style politics where the winner takes all.

The sceptical public didn't buy the party's new line and when the votes were counted in the country's first fair elections in 30 years, Pascal Lissouba won and was sworn into office in late 1992. Andre Milongo again became prime minister. Trying to diffuse the opposition, Lissouba proposed an amnesty to high officials of previous regimes for any wrongdoing. One of the fruits of the country's new democratic order has been an increased openness to Westerners, including Americans who in the past have been virtually shunned. Another has been the abolition of the dreaded Securete and the many police checkpoints in the countryside.

In mid-1993 elections were held for the National Assembly. A coalition of some 60 parties backing Lissouba won a bare majority and Milongo was returned as prime minister. Opposition leader Bernard Kolelas contested the results and appealed for a 'military solution' which sparked off widespread rioting and looting. This resulted in the death of the Libyan ambassador when he failed to stop at a police checkpoint. Clearly the road to democracy won't be easy.

Government & Politics

Names:
conventional long form Republic of the Congo
conventional short form Congo
local long form Republique Populaire du Congo
local short form Congo
former Congo/Brazzaville

Digraph: CF

Type: republic

Capital: Brazzaville

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)

Constitution: new constitution approved by referendum March 1992

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state President Pascal LISSOUBA (since August 1992); election last held 2-16 August 1992 (next to be held August 1997); results - President Pascal LISSOUBA won with 61% of the vote
head of government Prime Minister Jacques Joachim YHOMBI-OPANGO (since 23 June 1993)
cabinet Council of Ministers; named by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) election last held 3 October 1993; results - percentage vote by party NA; seats - (125 total) UPADS 64, URD/PCT 58, others 3
Senate election last held 26 July 1992 (next to be held July 1998); results - percentage vote by party NA; seats - (60 total) UPADS 23, MCDDI 14, RDD 8, RDPS 5, PCT 2, others 8

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders: Congolese Labor Party (PCT), Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president; Pan-African Union for Social Development (UPADS), Pascal LISSOUBA, leader; Association for Democracy and Development (RDD) - Joachim Yhombi OPANGO, president; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI), Bernard KOLELAS, leader; Association for Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS), Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president; Union of Democratic Forces (UFD), David Charles GANAO, leader; Union for Development and Social Progress (UDPS), Jean-Michael BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader
note Congo has many political parties of which these are among the most important

Other political or pressure groups: Union of Congolese Socialist Youth (UJSC); Congolese Trade Union Congress (CSC); Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women (URFC); General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students (UGEEC)

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission Ambassador Pierre Damien BOUSSOUKOU-BOUMBA
chancery 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone (202) 726-5500 or 5501

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission Ambassador William RAMSEY
embassy Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville
mailing address B. P. 1015, Brazzaville
telephone (242) 83-20-70
FAX [242] 83-63-38

Red Flag GYR Flag
Flags: the first, is a formal flag of Congo used by the Communist Party, and the second is now the official flag of the Republic of Congo - red, divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Constitutional Background & Constitution (1992)