Alphonse Massamba-Débat

**Alphonse Massamba-Débat** (February 11, 1921 – March 25, 1977) be a political figure of de Republic of the Congo who lead de country from 1963 until 1968 insyd a one-party system.

## Biography

### Early life
E born for one small village dem dey call Nkolo, wey dey Boko District for inside French Equatorial Africa around 1921, insyd Kongo family. E go missionary school plus primary school for Boko Regional School. Later, e train to be teacher for Edouard Renard school for Brazzaville. By age 13, e don already dey teach, and between 1945 to 1948, e go Chad go teach. By 1940, e join Chadian Progressive Party, wey be anti-colonialist movement, and for 1945, e be General Secretary of Association for de Development of Chad. E come return to Congo for 1947, be principal for Mossendjo from 1948 to 1953, den move to Mindouli from 1953 to 1956. For 1957, e be Headmaster of Bakongo Secular School for Brazzaville, and e join Congolese Progressive Party (PPC).

### Career
By 1957, Massamba-Débat don join Fulbert Youlou ein party wey dem dey call Democratic Union for de Defense of African Interests (UDDIA). E stop teaching come be Minister of Education. Two years later, dem elect am go de national assembly. For 1959, dem make am president of de assembly, and e remain for power, later serve as Minister of State plus Planning. But e start dey criticize Youlou ein government, wey many people believe say e dey lean too much on France.

When dem overthrow President Fulbert Youlou for coup on August 15, 1963, dem suspend de presidency. De next day, Massamba-Débat, wey be Chairman of de National Council of the Revolution, become Prime Minister, and dem declare say de National Council of the Revolution go be de only legal political party for de country. On December 19, 1963, dem elect Massamba-Débat as President, den Pascal Lissouba come take over as new Prime Minister.

#### Congo under Massamba-Débat (1963–1968)
Massamba-Débat ein government try follow one political economic style dem dey call "scientific socialism." By July 1964, Massamba-Débat ein people declare say na only one party go rule, wey be de National Movement of de Revolution, plus dem start nationalize plenty tins. For outside matter, Massamba-Débat join body plus USSR plus Communist China, and e gree make some guerilla fighters wey dey claim say dem be communist stay for Congo land.

Under Massamba-Débat, Congo carry ideologies wey lean go socialist countries like Cuba plus China, and e comot body from capitalist countries. Che Guevara come meet Massamba-Débat for January 1965, plus dem break diplomatic relationship plus de United States. De relation between Congo-Brazzaville and dem neighbour Democratic Republic of de Congo no too good, as Mobutu own style start dey influence dem political road. So because of dat, de Tshombe government comot all Congo-Brazzaville people wey dey live for former Belgian Congo.

For economic plus social level, Massamba-Débat lead de country wey dey manage tins well plus strict. Under ein presidency, Congo start dey do industrialization, wey make de standard of living for Congolese people better pass before. Dem build some big factories wey employ plenty people: like de textile factory for Kinsoundi, palm plantations for Etoumbi, match factory for Bétou, shipyards for Yoro, and so on. Dem build health centers plus plenty school groups (colleges plus primary schools). Congo ein school enrollment rate turn de highest for all Black Africa. Same time, Brazzaville turn base for left-wing people wey run from other Central African countries.

Massamba-Débat try form people militia units for 1966 plus Cuban army dem help am. But for June to July 1966, for 10 days, some military people try overthrow ein government after he try put all di army under one command. Inside dis coup attempt wey no succeed, plenty Cuban soldiers hide members of Massamba-Débat ein government. Later, he come back to power but he gree some of de coup leaders demma demands.

Then on August 5, 1968, dem form new National Council of de Revolution (CNR) plus new government, wey get 40 people insyd, including Massamba-Débat.

For July 1968, he arrest Captain Ngouabi, scatter de National Assembly plus de Political Bureau of de MNR, then suspend de 1963 Constitution. Dis action cause wahala between de Civil Defense people dem and some part of de army. Dem force am later make he free all political prisoners and try settle things plus ein opponents. But after de coup palaver, tension still dey between Massamba-Débat ein government and de military. Then on September 4, 1968, Marien Ngouabi, wey be chairman for de same party wey carry Massamba-Débat go power, overthrow am.

#### Life under house arrest
After de coup for 1968 wey no get bloodshed, dem force Massamba-Débat comot for politics, so he go back ein hometown. Few hours after dem kill Ngouabi, dem arrest Massamba-Débat. As Ngouabi die for 1977, dem arrest plenty people put dem on trial say dem plan de killing, and Massamba-Débat too dey among. Dem shoot am by firing squad on de night of March 25, 1977.

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