Jump to navigation

Vol 50 No 16

Published 7th August 2009


A stolen election, then a coalition

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.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 650 words.

End of preview

Subscribers: Log in now to read the complete article.

