Alphonse Massemba-Débat
Encyclopedia
Alphonse Massamba-Debat (1921 – March 25, 1977, Brazzaville
) was a political figure of the Republic of the Congo
who led the country from 1963 until 1968.
When the President of the Republic of the Congo, Fulbert Youlou
, was deposed in a coup d'état
on August 15, 1963, the presidency was suspended. Massamba-Debat, Chairman of the National Council of the Revolution, was declared Prime Minister the next day, and the National Council of the Revolution was declared the only legal political party
in the country. Massamba-Debat became President on December 19, 1963, with Pascal Lissouba
standing in as the new Prime Minister.
Massamba-Debat's government was overthrown on September 4, 1968 by Marien Ngouabi
, the chairman of the same party that had brought Massamba-Debat to power. He was then forced to leave politics. When Ngouabi was murdered in 1977, many people were arrested and tried for plotting the assassination, including Massamba-Debat. He was convicted and executed in March for treason
, although there is little evidence that he knew of the plot beforehand.
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
) was a political figure of the Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
who led the country from 1963 until 1968.
When the President of the Republic of the Congo, Fulbert Youlou
Fulbert Youlou
Abbé Fulbert Youlou was a Brazzaville-Congolese Roman Catholic priest, nationalist leader and politician.-Early life:...
, was deposed in a coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
on August 15, 1963, the presidency was suspended. Massamba-Debat, Chairman of the National Council of the Revolution, was declared Prime Minister the next day, and the National Council of the Revolution was declared the only legal political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the country. Massamba-Debat became President on December 19, 1963, with Pascal Lissouba
Pascal Lissouba
Pascal Lissouba was the first democratically elected President of the Republic of the Congo from August 31, 1992 to October 15, 1997. He was overthrown by the current President Denis Sassou Nguesso in the 1997 civil war....
standing in as the new Prime Minister.
Massamba-Debat's government was overthrown on September 4, 1968 by Marien Ngouabi
Marien Ngouabi
Marien Ngouabi was the military President of the Republic of the Congo from January 1, 1969 to March 18, 1977.-Origins:...
, the chairman of the same party that had brought Massamba-Debat to power. He was then forced to leave politics. When Ngouabi was murdered in 1977, many people were arrested and tried for plotting the assassination, including Massamba-Debat. He was convicted and executed in March for treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
, although there is little evidence that he knew of the plot beforehand.