Marien Ngouabi
Marien Ngouabi (also N'Gouabi; * 1938 in Ombele, † March 18, 1977 in Brazzaville ) was from 1968 to 1977 head of state of the Republic of Congo.
Soldier
Ngouabi came from the north of the country. He joined the Army and attended the Military Academy in Strasbourg. In 1964 he was promoted to captain. In 1966 he was because of his refusal to participate in a coup against the president Alphonse Massemba - Débat, briefly expelled from the army and resumed after the failure of the coup. He was counted to the left wing of the ruling Unity Party Mouvement National de la Révolution (MNR ). In July 1968, he was briefly detained, but was quickly released from other soldiers. Whether he participated in the coup of September 4, 1968, the Massemba - Débats presidency put an end, remained unclear.
President
On December 31, 1968, he was chairman of the Junta, which appeared under the name Conseil national de la révolution, new president. On December 31, 1969 he changed the country's name to "Republic of Congo " in " People's Republic of Congo ". Without having to connect to France demolish all, the country entered into a close relationship with the Soviet Union under his leadership. The former Unity Party was replaced by a new one under the name Parti Congolais du Travail (PCT ) in December 1969. In 1975 he was re-elected as president, the result was the absence of competition from quite unique.
Some of coup attempts against him, however, were associated with France. He is said to have refused the mid-1970s to bring the date to Portuguese Angola Cabinda enclave belonging with their oil reserves under control.
Like his predecessor, he also maintained good relations with the People 's Republic of China, which he visited in July 1973.
Death
Ngouabi was assassinated in another coup attempt on 18 March 1977. Some actual or suspected backers were caught and executed. Under Suspicion fell, his predecessor Massemba - Débat, which was also executed on 25 March 1977. As head of state was succeeded by his cousin Joachim Yhombi - Opango.
Today is March 18 Memorial Day in the Republic of Congo, the only university in the country in Brazzaville was named in his honor Université Marien Ngouabi and a stele was inaugurated in August 2005 to his memory in Pointe- Noire.