Trois Glorieuses (1963)
Encyclopedia
The Trois Glorieuses was an uprising in Congo-Brazzaville which occurred August 13–15, 1963. The uprising ended the rule of the first Congolese President, Fulbert Youlou
, as the opposition trade union
movement and Congolese Youth Union
struck an alliance with the army.
, led by his party UDDIA. At the time, other political parties had ceased to function as an effective opposition, whilst the trade union
movement CGAT and the Congolese Youth Union
(two groups singled out by Youlou as 'communists') had suffered crackdowns.
By mid-1963, the Congolese labour movement had become increasingly vocal. A state visit
by the Guinea
n president, Sékou Touré, June 5–6 proved a turning point. During Touré's visit, trade unions and youth movements held protests, hailing Touré and ridiculing Youlou. Later, a united front of trade union centres was formed. On July 2, 1963, two joint trade union committees were formed, one of them consisting of CGAT, CSAL and CATC. In protest against the proposal to install a one-party rule, the trade unions called for a general strike
on August 13, 1963.
, asking France to intervene militarily to save his government. Gaulle denied Youlou's request. On August 15, the army withdrew their support to Youlou and sided with the trade unions and the Congolese Youth Union.
as Prime Minister). On August 16, the trade unionists formed a National Revolutionary Council (CNR).
, and was also a reference to the Gaullist seizure of power in French Equatorial Africa
July 26–28, 1940. The date of the victory of the revolution, August 15, was also the Independence Day of Congo as well as the Christian
holiday of Ascension, a coincidence to which a mythical importance was attached.
In 1970, a new national anthem, Les Trois Glorieuses
, named after the 1963 revolution was adopted.
Fulbert Youlou
Abbé Fulbert Youlou was a Brazzaville-Congolese Roman Catholic priest, nationalist leader and politician.-Early life:...
, as the opposition trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
movement and Congolese Youth Union
Congolese Youth Union
The Congolese Youth Union was a youth organization in Congo-Brazzaville. The U.J.C. was initially merely a local branch of the Republican Youth Union of France , the youth wing the French Communist Party. However it developed into an independent organization and began organizing cells in...
struck an alliance with the army.
Background
Congo-Brazzaville had become independent in 1960. The rule of the first president, Fulbert Youlou, developed in an authoritarian direction. During a tour of Haut-Congo in August 1962, Youlou proposed turning Congo into a single-party stateSingle-party state
A single-party state, one-party system or single-party system is a type of party system government in which a single political party forms the government and no other parties are permitted to run candidates for election...
, led by his party UDDIA. At the time, other political parties had ceased to function as an effective opposition, whilst the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
movement CGAT and the Congolese Youth Union
Congolese Youth Union
The Congolese Youth Union was a youth organization in Congo-Brazzaville. The U.J.C. was initially merely a local branch of the Republican Youth Union of France , the youth wing the French Communist Party. However it developed into an independent organization and began organizing cells in...
(two groups singled out by Youlou as 'communists') had suffered crackdowns.
By mid-1963, the Congolese labour movement had become increasingly vocal. A state visit
Sékou Touré presidential visit to the Republic of the Congo
Between June 5 and 6, 1963, the Guinean president Sékou Touré made an official visit to Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo. He was received by the Congolese president Fulbert Youlou...
by the Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
n president, Sékou Touré, June 5–6 proved a turning point. During Touré's visit, trade unions and youth movements held protests, hailing Touré and ridiculing Youlou. Later, a united front of trade union centres was formed. On July 2, 1963, two joint trade union committees were formed, one of them consisting of CGAT, CSAL and CATC. In protest against the proposal to install a one-party rule, the trade unions called for a general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
on August 13, 1963.
August 13
Protests began on August 12, consisting of workers and unemployed. The rallyists called for raised salaries, and for the release of detained labour activists. Soldiers opened fire on the crowd, killing three trade unionists. The rallies turned into violent riots. Houses were sacked, and a follower of Youlou killed.Fall of Youlou
As of August 14, Youlou's government remained in place. Youlou contacted the French president, Charles de GaulleCharles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
, asking France to intervene militarily to save his government. Gaulle denied Youlou's request. On August 15, the army withdrew their support to Youlou and sided with the trade unions and the Congolese Youth Union.
New government
The uprising and the fall of Youlou brought two groups into power: the militaries and the trade unionists. However, neither group was represented in the provisional government formed on August 15, 1963 (with Alphonse Massemba-DébatAlphonse Massemba-Débat
Alphonse Massamba-Debat was a political figure of the Republic of the Congo who led the country from 1963 until 1968....
as Prime Minister). On August 16, the trade unionists formed a National Revolutionary Council (CNR).
Legacy
The uprising was named after the July RevolutionJuly Revolution
The French Revolution of 1830, also known as the July Revolution or in French, saw the overthrow of King Charles X of France, the French Bourbon monarch, and the ascent of his cousin Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, who himself, after 18 precarious years on the throne, would in turn be overthrown...
, and was also a reference to the Gaullist seizure of power in French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa or the AEF was the federation of French colonial possessions in Middle Africa, extending northwards from the Congo River to the Sahara Desert.-History:...
July 26–28, 1940. The date of the victory of the revolution, August 15, was also the Independence Day of Congo as well as the Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
holiday of Ascension, a coincidence to which a mythical importance was attached.
In 1970, a new national anthem, Les Trois Glorieuses
Les Trois Glorieuses
Les Trois Glorieuses was the anthem of the People's Republic of the Congo from January 1, 1970 through 1991 from December 13, 2011 when the original anthem, La Congolaise was restored....
, named after the 1963 revolution was adopted.