Ange Édouard Poungui
Encyclopedia
Ange Édouard Poungui is a Congolese
politician. Poungui was the Prime Minister of Congo-Brazzaville from 7 August 1984 to 7 August 1989 under President Denis Sassou Nguesso
. He was chosen as the candidate of the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy
(UPADS) for the 2009 presidential election
, but was barred from running.
Following the Third Ordinary Congress of the PCT, held on 27–31 July 1984, Poungui was appointed to succeed Louis Sylvain Goma
as Prime Minister on 7 August 1984.
Amidst the introduction of multiparty politics, Poungui resigned from the PCT on 28 November 1990 and became the leader of a new party, the Union for Social Progress and Democracy (UPSD). At the end of the June–October 1997 civil war, in which PCT leader Denis Sassou Nguesso
returned to power, Poungui, as a supporter of President Pascal Lissouba
, fled into exile. He remained in exile until 2006.
Poungui joined UPADS and was elected as one of its 25 Vice-Presidents in December 2006, at the party's first extraordinary congress. He was later chosen as the party's candidate for the 2009 presidential election by the UPADS National Council in a primary election on 30 November 2008. His sole rival for the nomination, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou
, withdrew from the vote, complaining of "lack of transparency in the process", and Poungui, as the only candidate, received 85% of the vote.
On 19 June 2009, less than a month before the election, the Constitutional Court ruled against Poungui's candidacy, deciding that he was ineligible to stand because he had not lived continuously in the country for at least two years. UPADS denounced the ruling as politically motivated. As the representative of the main opposition party, Poungui was the most important opposition candidate, and his disqualification was viewed as eliminating any possibility that Sassou Nguesso might face a serious challenge in the election.
Following the announcement of official results showing an overwhelming victory for Sassou Nguesso, he and other opposition leaders participated in a banned protest march on 15 July 2009. After Sassou Nguesso was sworn in for a new term, Poungui said on 17 August 2009 that he had tried to travel to France "for purely personal and private reasons" on 14 August but had been barred from leaving the country by police who said that "all political figures should stay at home to attend national independence festivities" on 15 August. Poungui said that he tried again on 16 August but was still barred from leaving, and he claimed that he was therefore "under house arrest
".
Government Spokesman Alain Akouala Atipault
said on 24 August 2009 that it was necessary for Poungui to remain in Congo-Brazzaville while an investigation was conducted into the banned march, but he also said that Poungui was not under house arrest. In further remarks on 2 September, Akouala Atipault said that the banned march had been a disturbance of public order, and he stressed the principle of equality under the law, arguing that no one, not even prominent politicians, could behave with impunity. He acknowledged that Poungui was a free citizen who had not been convicted of a crime, but he nevertheless insisted that, under the circumstances, Poungui could not be allowed to leave.
According to Poungui, the government restricted his movements even within Congo-Brazzaville; he said that he and UPADS Secretary-General Pascal Tsaty Mabiala
were barred from flying to the Congolese town of Dolisie to participate in a UPADS meeting in September 2009.
In a communiqué on 13 April 2010, an faction called the UPADS–Red Base identified Poungui as one of its leaders. Poungui denied the claim on 15 April, saying that he knew nothing of the "red" faction and that he remained a loyal member of the main UPADS faction, led by Tsaty Mabiala. On 29–30 June 2010, the UPADS National Council met and assigned Poungui to lead a six-member contact group that was tasked with persuading dissident party members to rejoin the main faction for the sake of party unity.
In the October 2011 Senate election, Poungui was elected to the Senate as a UPADS candidate in Bouenza Region
.
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...
politician. Poungui was the Prime Minister of Congo-Brazzaville from 7 August 1984 to 7 August 1989 under President Denis Sassou Nguesso
Denis Sassou Nguesso
Denis Sassou Nguesso is a Congolese politician who has been the President of Congo-Brazzaville since 1997; he was previously President from 1979 to 1992. During his first period as President, he headed the single-party regime of the Congolese Labour Party for 12 years...
. He was chosen as the candidate of the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy
Pan-African Union for Social Democracy
The Pan-African Union for Social Democracy is a political party in the Republic of the Congo, led by former president Pascal Lissouba....
(UPADS) for the 2009 presidential election
Republic of the Congo presidential election, 2009
A presidential election was held in the Republic of the Congo on 12 July 2009. Long-time President Denis Sassou Nguesso won another seven-year term with a large majority of the vote, but the election was marked by accusations of irregularities and fraud from the opposition; six opposition...
, but was barred from running.
Political career
In December 1969, Poungui was included in the original Political Bureau of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT) as President of the Economy, Finance, and Social Affairs Committee. He was also included in the smaller, five-member Political Bureau elected in December 1971 and was assigned responsibility for finance and equipment. He also served in the government as Minister of Finance until 30 August 1973.Following the Third Ordinary Congress of the PCT, held on 27–31 July 1984, Poungui was appointed to succeed Louis Sylvain Goma
Louis Sylvain Goma
Louis Sylvain Goma is a Congolese politician. Goma was the Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo from 18 December 1975 to 7 August 1984 under three successive Heads of State: Marien Ngouabi, Jacques Yhombi-Opango, and Denis Sassou Nguesso.Prime Minister Henri Lopès and his government...
as Prime Minister on 7 August 1984.
Amidst the introduction of multiparty politics, Poungui resigned from the PCT on 28 November 1990 and became the leader of a new party, the Union for Social Progress and Democracy (UPSD). At the end of the June–October 1997 civil war, in which PCT leader Denis Sassou Nguesso
Denis Sassou Nguesso
Denis Sassou Nguesso is a Congolese politician who has been the President of Congo-Brazzaville since 1997; he was previously President from 1979 to 1992. During his first period as President, he headed the single-party regime of the Congolese Labour Party for 12 years...
returned to power, Poungui, as a supporter of President 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....
, fled into exile. He remained in exile until 2006.
Poungui joined UPADS and was elected as one of its 25 Vice-Presidents in December 2006, at the party's first extraordinary congress. He was later chosen as the party's candidate for the 2009 presidential election by the UPADS National Council in a primary election on 30 November 2008. His sole rival for the nomination, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou
Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou
Joseph Kignomba Kia Mbougou is a politician in the Republic of Congo. He stood in the 2002 presidential election for the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy Party. He came second in the election gaining 33,154 votes....
, withdrew from the vote, complaining of "lack of transparency in the process", and Poungui, as the only candidate, received 85% of the vote.
On 19 June 2009, less than a month before the election, the Constitutional Court ruled against Poungui's candidacy, deciding that he was ineligible to stand because he had not lived continuously in the country for at least two years. UPADS denounced the ruling as politically motivated. As the representative of the main opposition party, Poungui was the most important opposition candidate, and his disqualification was viewed as eliminating any possibility that Sassou Nguesso might face a serious challenge in the election.
Following the announcement of official results showing an overwhelming victory for Sassou Nguesso, he and other opposition leaders participated in a banned protest march on 15 July 2009. After Sassou Nguesso was sworn in for a new term, Poungui said on 17 August 2009 that he had tried to travel to France "for purely personal and private reasons" on 14 August but had been barred from leaving the country by police who said that "all political figures should stay at home to attend national independence festivities" on 15 August. Poungui said that he tried again on 16 August but was still barred from leaving, and he claimed that he was therefore "under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
".
Government Spokesman Alain Akouala Atipault
Alain Akouala Atipault
Alain Akouala Atipault is a Congolese politician. He served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of Communication in charge of Relations with Parliament, as well as Government Spokesman, from 2002 to 2009, and he has been Minister at the Presidency in charge of Special Economic...
said on 24 August 2009 that it was necessary for Poungui to remain in Congo-Brazzaville while an investigation was conducted into the banned march, but he also said that Poungui was not under house arrest. In further remarks on 2 September, Akouala Atipault said that the banned march had been a disturbance of public order, and he stressed the principle of equality under the law, arguing that no one, not even prominent politicians, could behave with impunity. He acknowledged that Poungui was a free citizen who had not been convicted of a crime, but he nevertheless insisted that, under the circumstances, Poungui could not be allowed to leave.
According to Poungui, the government restricted his movements even within Congo-Brazzaville; he said that he and UPADS Secretary-General Pascal Tsaty Mabiala
Pascal Tsaty Mabiala
Pascal Tsaty Mabiala is a Congolese politician who is currently the Secretary-General of the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy and the President of the UPADS Parliamentary Group.-Political career:...
were barred from flying to the Congolese town of Dolisie to participate in a UPADS meeting in September 2009.
In a communiqué on 13 April 2010, an faction called the UPADS–Red Base identified Poungui as one of its leaders. Poungui denied the claim on 15 April, saying that he knew nothing of the "red" faction and that he remained a loyal member of the main UPADS faction, led by Tsaty Mabiala. On 29–30 June 2010, the UPADS National Council met and assigned Poungui to lead a six-member contact group that was tasked with persuading dissident party members to rejoin the main faction for the sake of party unity.
In the October 2011 Senate election, Poungui was elected to the Senate as a UPADS candidate in Bouenza Region
Bouenza Region
Bouenza is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the southern part of the country. It borders the departments of Lékoumou, Niari, and Pool, and internationally, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The regional capital is Madingou...
.