Ange Édouard Poungui

**Ange Édouard Poungui** (born 4 January 1942) be a Congolese politician. Poungui be de Prime Minister of Congo-Brazzaville from 7 August 1984 to 7 August 1989 under Presido Denis Sassou Nguesso. Na dem choose am as de candidate of de Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS) for de 2009 presidential election, buh na dem bar am from running.

## Political career
For December 1969, Poungui join de original Political Bureau of de Congolese Labour Party (PCT) as President for de Economy, Finance den Social Affairs Committee. Dem still put am for de smaller five-man Political Bureau wey dem elect for December 1971, give am work to handle finance plus equipment. Between August 1972 to July 1973, he serve as vice president under Marien Ngouabi. He still work as Minister of Finance until 30 August 1973.

After de PCT do dem Third Ordinary Congress from 27 to 31 July 1984, dem appoint Poungui to replace Louis Sylvain Goma as Prime Minister on 7 August 1984.

As multiparty politics begin enter, Poungui komot from de PCT on 28 November 1990, then he become leader of one new party wey dem call Union for Social Progress and Democracy (UPSD). After de June to October 1997 civil war wey bring PCT leader Denis Sassou Nguesso back to power, Poungui — wey support President Pascal Lissouba — run go exile. He no come back till 2006.

Poungui join UPADS and dem elect am as one of di 25 Vice-Presidents for December 2006 during de party dem first extraordinary congress. Later, de UPADS National Council choose am as dia candidate for di 2009 presidential election after one primary wey happen on 30 November 2008. Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou, wey be di only pesin wey contest di ticket with am, withdraw from de vote sake of say im complain say di process no clear. So, as Poungui be di only one remain, he get 85% of de vote.

But on 19 June 2009, just less than one month to di election, di Constitutional Court block Poungui from contesting, say he no stay for Congo consistently for two years straight as di law require. UPADS vex say na politics cause di ruling. As Poungui be di biggest opposition candidate from di main opposition party, dis action mean say President Sassou Nguesso no go face any strong challenge for dat election.

After dem announce say Sassou Nguesso win di election by wide margin, Poungui and other opposition leaders join one protest march on 15 July 2009 wey government don ban. Then on 17 August 2009, after Sassou Nguesso don swear in again, Poungui talk say he try travel go France for personal reasons on 14 August, but police stop am say all political people suppose stay for di country to celebrate Independence Day on 15 August. He try again on 16 August but dem still stop am. Na why he come say dem don put am for "house arrest".

On 24 August 2009, Government Spokesman Alain Akouala Atipault tok say e dey necessary make Poungui remain for Congo-Brazzaville while government dey investigate di banned protest march. But im still talk say dem no put Poungui under house arrest.

Later, on 2 September, Akouala Atipault talk say di march wey dem ban disturb public order. He come emphasize say everybody equal under di law, including big politicians, so nobody suppose dey act like say law no fit touch dem. Even though he agree say Poungui be free citizen and say dem never convict am for any crime, he still insist say based on how tins be, Poungui no go fit travel comot.

But according to wetin Poungui talk, government no just stop am from travelling out of di country — dem even restrict am for inside Congo-Brazzaville itself. He talk say dem no gree make he den UPADS Secretary-General, Pascal Tsaty Mabiala, fly go Dolisie for September 2009 to attend UPADS meeting.

Joseph Poungui remain active for Congo politics even after all di controversy wey surround am. For one communiqué wey come out on 13 April 2010, one faction wey call itself *UPADS–Red Base* talk say Poungui na one of dia leaders. But just two days later, on 15 April, Poungui deny di claim. He talk say he no sabi anything about dis "red" faction and he still dey loyal to di main UPADS group wey Tsaty Mabiala dey lead.

Later on, from 29 to 30 June 2010, di UPADS National Council gather and dem give Poungui responsibility to lead one six-member contact team. Di team get task to try bring back all di party members wey don waka comot, so dat unity go return to di party.

Di October 2011 Senate election show say Poungui still get political weight, as dem elect am as Senator under UPADS for Bouenza Department. He continue to dey active for local politics too — for September 2014, he win election as local councillor for Madingou. Then again, for 31 August 2017 Senate election, Poungui win re-election as UPADS Senator for Bouenza.

## References