The scientist-president overthrown after the Congo's first free election
In 1977 a military tribunal sentenced him to death for complicity in Ngouabi's assassination, and only the intervention of Omar Bongo of Gabon saved him from the firing squad.
A biologist trained in agronomy and genetics who became prime minister of Massamba-Débat's government in 1963 at the age of 32. Under the People's Republic he was sentenced to death for alleged complicity in Ngouabi's assassination, then released into exile in France; at the 1991 sovereign national conference he led the early rounds for transitional prime minister before losing the fourth ballot to Milongo. In 1992 he led the social-democratic UPADS to victory over Sassou Nguesso and became the Congo's first democratically elected president, only to be driven into exile again by the 1997 civil war.
Career Timeline
- 1956Agricultural engineering diploma, École Supérieure d'Agriculture, Tunis
- 1961Doctorate in science, University of Paris; researcher at ORSTOM
- 1963–1966Prime minister under Massamba-Débat, also minister of agriculture
- 1966–1970Professor of genetics; director, École Supérieure des Sciences
- 1977Death sentence for alleged role in Ngouabi's assassination, commuted to life
- 1979–1990Exile in France; UNESCO director for exact and natural sciences
- 1991Founded the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS)
- 1992–1997President; overthrown after the 1997 civil war