Pascal Lissouba

**Pascal Lissouba** (15 November 1931 – 24 August 2020) be a Congolese politician who be de first democratically elected President of de Republic of de Congo den served from 31 August 1992 until 25 October 1997. He be overthrown by ein predecessor den current president Denis Sassou Nguesso insyd de 1997 civil war.

## Early life den education
Na dem born Lissouba insyd Tsinguidi, south-west Congo, to Bandjabi parents. He attend primary school insyd Mossendjo den Boko. He begin ein secondary studies insyd Brazzaville den gain ein education at de Lycée Félix Faure insyd Nice (1948–52), where he obtain a baccalaureate. He then studied Agronomy at de *École Supérieure d'Agriculture* insyd Tunis wey na he secure a diploma insyd agricultural engineering insyd 1956. At de University of Paris (1958–61) he receive a doctoral degree insyd biology. He sana be a fellow trainee at de National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) insyd Paris den at ORSTOM. Insyd June 1961, he work as a researcher at ORSTOM. Na dem appoint am lecturer insyd plant biology by decree of de French Ministry of National Education on 3 November 1961.

## Political career
Initially he be a civil servant, wey work as a managing director insyd de Department of Agriculture (1962–63), having return insyd 1962. But ein abilities advanced him to become Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Water, den Forestry on 16 August 1963 until 1966 den then Prime Minister (1963–66) under President Alphonse Massamba-Débat. He be appointed Minister of State for Planning, then for Agriculture (1968–1969), before being sacked by de government. Afterwards, he become a genetics professor at de University of Brazzaville (1966–1971) den later director of de Ecole Supérieure des Sciences insyd 1970. When Massamba-Débat be overthrown insyd 1968 Lissouba dey remain insyd government under Marien Ngouabi den although he be suspended from political activity from 1969 to 1971 he be on de Central Committee of de Congolese Workers Party insyd 1973.

Insyd 1977, he be implicated for involvement insyd de assassination of Ngouabi den be arrested. He be sentenced to life imprisonment den hard labour insyd 1977. He be released insyd 1979 buthad to live insyd exile insyd France from 1979 to 1990. Insyd France, he be a professor of genetics at de University of Paris den then work for UNESCO insyd Paris den Nairobi. When President Denis Sassou Nguesso be forced to move de Congo towards democracy insyd 1991, Lissouba returned insyd February 1992 den be elected president insyd de August 1992 elections. He secure 36% of de vote as head of de left-wing Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (*Union panafricaine pour la démocratie sociale*, UPADS). Insyd de run-off plus second-placed Bernard Kolelas, Lissouba get 61% of die vote.

## Unrest den civil war
Conflict soon break out however. A coalition of opposition groups den demma militias accuse Lissouba of rigging de elections.

Fighting dey break out again insyd June 1997 when Lissouba engage militias loyal to former President Col. Denis Sassou Nguesso of de Congolese Labor Party (PCT) insyd Brazzaville, wey accuse de former president of an attempted coup. Sassou Nguesso, however, be able to escape den stage a counterattack. Thus begin a 4-month civil war dat dey destroy or damage much of de capital. Insyd early October 1997, Angolan troops invaded Congo on de side of Sassou. Most of Brazzaville fall to rebel den Angolan forces on 14 October 1997, den Lissouba fled; insyd two days de capital be under de control of forces loyal to Sassou Nguesso, den Pointe-Noire fall plus little resistance.

## Exile den trial
Following ein overthrow, Lissouba live insyd exile insyd London. He intend to return to de Congo for de 2002 elections, but insyd December 2001 he be tried *insyd absentia* insyd Brazzaville, den sentenced to 30 years forced labor for treason den corruption, related to a $150 million oil deal plus de American company Occidental Petroleum. Since 2004, he dey live insyd Paris insyd exile.

## Personal life
Na he be first marry Annette Chantegreil (1933-2019), then to Jocelyne Rosdam, a French national wey na he be de poppie of eleven kiddies. Ein eldest daughter, Mireille Lissouba, be ein chief of staff from 1993 to 1996, while ein younger daughter, Danielle Bineka be a university professor den writer, both currently exiled insyd Canada. Ein mommie, Marie Bouanga die insyd 1996.

## Ein death
Lissouba die insyd Perpignan, France, on 24 August 2020, due to complications from Alzheimer's disease, aged 88.

## Sanso see

* Maurice Mavoungou
* Ferdinand Mbahou
* Republic of the Congo Civil War
* Pan-African Union for Social Democracy

## References



## External links