Free article preview  

President Denis Sassou-Nguesso wants to buy off his political opponents and has his numerous family members right behind him

Re-elected for a further seven-year presidential term by a crushing majority, according to the official count, Denis Sassou-Nguesso is thinking about forming a national government. He has floated the prospect of talks with his opponents and there are suggestions that he might invite Ange-Edouard Poungui, the leading (but disqualified) opposition contender, to become prime minister. Poungui served as Premier in the 1980s when Sassou-Nguesso ran a one-party military regime which called itself Marxist. Since several French restaurateurs had stayed on in Congo, diplomats used to joke that Brazzaville boasted the best cuisine in the socialist block....

(This article contains approximately 650 words)

end of free article preview

Current subscribers: log in now to read the complete article. Misplaced your password? Then click here for a password reminder.

Not a subscriber? Then you can read this article in full either by becoming a subscriber now, for 3, 6 or 12 months, or you can buy this individual article.

  • Subscribe to Africa Confidential:
  • Buy this article:
  • 3-month subscription
    Prices from £205.00 (+ VAT where applicable)
    6-month subscription
    Prices from £376.00 (+ VAT where applicable)
    12-month subscription
    Prices from £705.00 (+ VAT where applicable)
  • UK & European Union
    £17.00 (+ VAT where applicable)
    Rest of the world
    $27.00

  • If you have a print subscription already, click here for a password that gives you full access to the website.
  • If you are logged in, but still cannot access the full text of this article, email customer services or telephone us on +44(0)1638 743633.

Keywords:

Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Ange-Edouard Poungui, French, Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, Angola, Chad, Tunisia, Co-opting the cousins, Pascal Lissouba, Bernard Kolélas, Jacques-Joachim Yhombi-Opango, Jean-Claude Gackosso, Christophe Moukouéké, Victor Tamba-Tamba, Nguila Moungounga, Nkombo, Benoît Koukébéné, Paulin Makaya, Emmanuel Ngouelondele-Mongo, Congo-Kinshasa, Rwanda, Miguel Amado, Union Panafricaine pour la Démocratie Sociale, Mouvement Congolais pour la Démocratie et le Développment Intégrale, Gendarmerie, Parti pour l'Alternance Démocratique, France 24