1958    Chad, the Republic of the Congo, and Gabon become autonomous republics within the French Community.

1960    Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) becomes independent from France.

1979    Denis Sassou-Nguesso becomes the President of the Republic of the Congo for the first time.

1992    Pascal Lissouba is inaugurated as the President of the Republic of the Congo .

1997    After a brief civil war which has driven President Pascal Lissouba out of Brazzaville, Denis Sassou-Nguesso proclaims himself the President of the Republic of the Congo.