Editing Denis Sassou Nguesso (section)

==Political career==
===1963–1979: early positions===
He was part of the 1968 military coup that overthrew president Massemba Debat and brought [[Marien Ngouabi]] to power. He was a founding member of the National Revolution Council (''Conseil National de la revolution'') in December 1968.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LISTE DES MEMBRES FONDATEURS DU CONSEIL NATIONAL DE LA RÉVOLUTION (21 décembre 1968)|url=http://congo-liberty.com/?p=24588|website=congo-liberty.com|access-date=7 August 2021|archive-date=7 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807111149/http://congo-liberty.com/?p=24588|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=L'historique du parti|url=http://www.particongolaisdutravail.org/histoire.html|website=particongolaisdutravail.org}}</ref>

In 1968, Sassou Nguesso took part in the military coup led by Commander Marien Ngouabi against Debat: He was a member of the Congolese National Revolution Council (''Conseil National de la révolution'')<ref>{{Cite web|title=LISTE DES MEMBRES FONDATEURS DU CONSEIL NATIONAL DE LA RÉVOLUTION (21 décembre 1968)|url=http://congo-liberty.com/?p=24588|website=congo-liberty.com|access-date=7 August 2021|archive-date=7 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807111149/http://congo-liberty.com/?p=24588|url-status=dead}}</ref> established on 5 August 1968.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Journal officiel de la république du Congo|url=https://www.sgg.cg/JO/1968/congo-jo-1968-16.pdf|journal=Journal officiel de la république du Congo|pages=22}}</ref> Under the leadership of Marien Ngouabi, the group limited the president's powers, before the latter finally resigned on 3 September 1968.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Congo-Brazzaville : 31 juillet 1968 : Coup d'Etat militaire ou complot politique ? Démission du Président Massamba Débat et prise de pouvoir de Marien NGouabi (2e partie)|url=http://congo-liberty.com/?p=22239.;Ngouabi|website=congo-liberty.com|access-date=7 August 2021|archive-date=7 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807111149/http://congo-liberty.com/?p=22239.;Ngouabi|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ngouabi officially became head of state in January 1969.<ref>{{Cite news|title=LE COMMANDANT NGOUABI DEVIENT CHEF DE L'ÉTAT|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1969/01/02/le-commandant-ngouabi-devient-chef-de-l-etat_2422753_1819218.html|newspaper=Le Monde.fr|date=2 January 1969}}</ref>

In December 1969, Sassou Nguesso was elected as a member of the first central committee of the new [[Congolese Party of Labour|Congolese Labor Party]] (''Parti Congolais du travail'', PCT). It was a [[communist]] party with a [[Marxist–Leninist]] doctrine. It was headed by Marien Ngouabi as president of the central committee, president of the republic and head of state.<ref>{{Cite web|date=|title=Accession de Marien Ngouabi à la présidence de la République du Congo|url=https://perspective.usherbrooke.ca/bilan/servlet/BMEve/1052|website=perspective.usherbrooke.ca}}</ref>

A new constitution was issued on 31 December 1969, which designated the country as the People's Republic of Congo.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Journal officiel de la république populaire du Congo|url=https://www.sgg.cg/JO/1970/congo-jo-1970-02.pdf|journal=Journal officiel de la république populaire du Congo|pages=22}}</ref>

In March 1970, following a failed coup attempted by Pierre Kinganga, a former lieutenant who was exiled in the neighboring Congo-Kinshasa,<ref>{{Cite news|title=ÉCHEC D'UN NOUVEAU COUP D'ÉTAT AU CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1970/03/24/echec-d-un-nouveau-coup-d-etat-au-congo-brazzaville_2662936_1819218.html|newspaper=Le Monde.fr|date=24 March 1970}}</ref> an extraordinary session of the PCT's congress was held, during which Sassou Nguesso integrated the political bureau of the PCT.<ref name="particongolaisdutravail.org">{{Cite web|title=Le premier congrès extraordinaire du parti congolais du travail|url=http://www.particongolaisdutravail.org/histoire-suite1.html|website=particongolaisdutravail.org}}</ref>

On 18 May 1973, Sassou Nguesso, who had been corps commander of the airborne group, was made Director of State Security.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Journal officiel de la république populaire du congo|url=https://www.sgg.cg/JO/1973/congo-jo-1973-11.pdf|journal=Journal officiel de la république populaire du congo|volume=11|pages=48}}</ref>

In 1975, amid an economic crisis, an extraordinary session of the PCT central committee was summoned. The eight members of the political bureau resigned and were replaced by a restricted "Revolutionary Special General Staff" (''Etat major spécial révolutionnaire''), composed of five members, including Sassou Nguesso, and headed by Marien Ngouabi.<ref name="particongolaisdutravail.org"/> At the end of the extraordinary session, Marien Ngouabi asked Sassou Nguessou and five other members for a report on the economic and political situation. The paper became known as the "Declaration of 12 December 1975". It recommended the "radicalization" of the revolution.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 January 2014 |title=La déclaration du 12 décembre 1975 |url=https://www.adiac-congo.com/content/la-declaration-du-12-decembre-1975 |website=adiac-congo.com |language=fr}}</ref>

In the same period, he was appointed Minister of Defense and Security at age 32.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cessou |first=Sabine |date=23 October 2015 |title=Congo-Brazzaville: Denis Sassou-Nguesso en dix dates |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20151023-congo-brazzaville-denis-sassou-nguesso-dix-dates-referendum |website=[[Radio France Internationale|RFI]] |language=fr}}</ref>

On 18 March 1977, president Marien Ngouabi was assassinated.<ref name="rfi.fr">{{Cite web |last=Arseneault |first=Michel |date=17 March 2017 |title=Il y a 40 ans, la mort d'un président au marxisme 'bien tempéré' à Brazzaville |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20170317-congo-il-y-40-ans-assassinat-brazzaville-president-marien-ngouabi-marxisme-bien-tem |website=[[Radio France Internationale|RFI]] |language=fr}}</ref> Official media stated that the assassination was conducted by a commando group led by Capt. Barthelemey Kikadidi.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=20 March 1977|title=Ngouabi Dies of Wounds|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/03/20/archives/ngouabi-dies-of-wounds-congolese-leader-slain-by-attackers.html|journal=The New York Times}}</ref> Others claimed that the assassination was plotted by military officers within the close circle of power.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 March 2013 |title=[Congo-Brazzaville] Assassinat de Marien Ngouabi: l'énigme du 18 mars 1977 |url=https://blogs.mediapart.fr/jecmaus/blog/180313/congo-brazzaville-assassinat-de-marien-ngouabi-lenigme-du-18-mars-1977 |access-date=8 August 2021 |website=blogs.mediapart.fr |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mayima-Mbemba |first=Jean-Claude |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xqkUAQAAIAAJ |title=Assassinats politiques au Congo-Brazzaville: rapport de la commission ad'hoc de la Conférence nationale souveraine, 25 février-10 juin 1991 |date=30 June 2004 |publisher=ICES |isbn=978-2-910153-30-4 |location=Corbeil-Essonnes |language=fr}}</ref>

A Military Committee of the Congolese Labor Party (''Comité militaire du PCT'') composed of eleven officers and led by Major Sassou Nguesso immediately took power and repealed the 1973 constitution. Sassou Nguesso acted as interim head of state from 18 March to 6 April 1977, then he conceded his position to general [[Joachim Yhombi-Opango]], who became president. Sassou Nguesso held the position of 1st vice president of the committee, while retaining his position of minister of defense.<ref name="rfi.fr" /><ref name="perspective.usherbrooke.ca">{{Cite web|title=Accession de Denis Sassou-Nguesso à la présidence de la République populaire du Congo|url=https://perspective.usherbrooke.ca/bilan/servlet/BMEve/1275|access-date=8 August 2021|website=perspective.usherbrooke.ca}}</ref>

Shortly after the Ngouabi assassination, Massamba-Debat and his former prime minister Pascal Lissouba were arrested and accused by a courts-martial of plotting the assassination. Massamba-Debat was executed on 25 March 1977.<ref name="rfi.fr" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1977-03-26 |title=FORMER PRESIDENT EXECUTED IN CONGO |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/03/26/archives/former-president-executed-in-congo-massambadebat-convicted-of-plot.html |access-date=2024-06-07 |work=[[The New York Times]] |pages=7 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Sassou Nguesso was appointed provisional president on 8 February, before being confirmed, during a special congress on 31 March 1979 as head of the central committee, President of the Republic, head of state and President of the council of ministers, for five years.<ref name="perspective.usherbrooke.ca"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Le premier congrès extraordinaire du parti congolais du travail|url=http://www.particongolaisdutravail.org/histoire-suite1.html|access-date=8 August 2021|website=particongolaisdutravail.org}}</ref>

On 8 July 1979, general elections were held and confirmed the PCT as the dominant political force: the Congolese Labor Party won all the seats in the People's National Assembly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Accession de Denis Sassou-Nguesso à la présidence de la République populaire du Congo|url=https://perspective.usherbrooke.ca/bilan/servlet/BMEve/1275|website=perspective.usherbrooke.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Congo-Brazzaville (1960–present)|url=https://uca.edu/politicalscience/dadm-project/sub-saharan-africa-region/congo-brazzaville-1960-present/|website=uca.edu}}</ref> A new constitution was adopted by referendum, confirming the socialist foundations of the country.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Perspective Monde|url=https://perspective.usherbrooke.ca/bilan/servlet/BMEve/1275https://cour-constitutionnelle.cg/constitutionsanterieures/ConstitutiondelaRepPopduCongodu8juillet1979.pdf|website=perspective.usherbrooke.ca}}</ref>

===1979–1991: three presidential terms===
As the newly elected president, Sassou Nguesso negotiated loans from the [[International Monetary Fund]] and allowed foreign investors from France and the Americas to conduct [[Petroleum|oil]] and mineral extraction. 

Although he was considered by French diplomats as representative of the radical wing of the PCT and as the Soviet Union and Cuba's man,<ref name="rfi.fr"/> Sassou Nguessou developed and maintained strong relationships with France on which he relied to support the staggering economy. The French oil company [[Elf Aquitaine]] played an important role in the exploitation of Congolese oil fields that led to the doubling of oil production and in supporting Congolese government expenses via pre-financing loans.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Le pétrole congolais d'Elf, huile de la Françafrique|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/evasion-fiscale/article/2018/04/10/le-petrole-congolais-d-elf-huile-de-la-francafrique_5283337_4862750.html|newspaper=Le Monde.fr|date=10 April 2018}}</ref>

He visited France in October 1979 and in July 1981 to seek economic support. In October 1980, high-ranking French political figures including former president [[Valery Giscard d'Estaing]], and former prime ministers [[Jacques Chirac]] and [[Pierre Messmer]], were guests to the celebration of the Brazzaville centenary.<ref>{{Cite book|title=congo brazzaville traité d'amitié avec l'union soviétique|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=15Qza8LQcFMC&pg=PA273|access-date=8 August 2021|isbn=9782865377398|last1=Bazenguissa-Ganga|first1=Rémy|date=January 1997| publisher=KARTHALA Editions}}</ref>

In May 1980 Sassou Nguessou signed a twenty-year friendship pact with the Soviet Union and in the same year sent two delegations to China while a Chinese minister visited Brazzaville. However, the economic impact of these relationships remained marginal: France provided up to 50% of the country's foreign aid while the Soviet Union's contribution did not exceed 1.5%.

[[File:Denis Sassou Nguesso 1986 cropped.jpg|thumb|180px|Denis Sassou Nguesso in 1986]]
Sassou Nguesso was re-elected for a five-year term as President of the PCT Central Committee and President of the Republic at the party's Third Ordinary Congress on 27–31 July 1984,<ref>"Nov 1984 – Re-election of President – Government changes", ''Keesing's Record of World Events'', volume 30, November 1984, Congo, page 33,201.</ref> He announced the release of Yhombi-Opango.<ref>"Jun 1986 – Release of former President-Party and Cabinet changes-Economic problems-Census", ''Keesing's Record of World Events'', volume 32, June 1986, Congo, page 34,406.</ref> He served as Chairman of the [[Organization of African Unity]] from 1986 to 1987. In late 1987 he faced down a serious military revolt in the north of the country with French aid.

At the PCT's Fourth Ordinary Congress on 26–31 July 1989, Sassou Nguesso was re-elected as President of the PCT Central Committee and President of the Republic,<ref>"Aug 1989 – Congo", ''Keesing's Record of World Events'', volume 35, August 1989, Congo, page 36,842.</ref> and the PCT won all of the seats of the People's National Assembly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Government: Eight Detained In Coup Plot|url=https://apnews.com/article/b5a59b5776314085ea980410e2f0efe7|access-date=8 August 2021|website=apnews.com}}</ref> With the collapse of the socialist states of Eastern Europe, as well as influence from the French, Sassou Nguesso began to bring the country towards capitalism.{{Citation needed|date=April 2014}}

In December 1989 he announced the end of government control of the economy and declared a partial [[amnesty]] for political prisoners. Over the following year, he attempted to improve the failing economic situation and reduce the outrageous levels of corruption. Starting in September 1990 political parties other than the PCT were allowed and Sassou Nguesso made a symbolic state visit to the United States, laying the grounds for a new series of conditional [[International Monetary Fund]] loans later that year.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}

He introduced multiparty politics in 1990 and was then stripped of executive powers by the 1991 National Conference,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Noble |first=Kenneth B. |date=25 June 1991 |title=Congo Political Conference Gives Africa a Democratic Model |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/25/world/congo-political-conference-gives-africa-a-democratic-model.html |access-date=24 August 2021 |work=The New York Times |page=A8 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> remaining in office as a ceremonial head of state. He stood as a candidate in the [[1992 Republic of the Congo presidential election|1992 presidential election]] but placed third.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE|url=https://media.africaportal.org/documents/paper41.pdf|url-status=dead|access-date=14 August 2021|archive-date=14 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814204328/https://media.africaportal.org/documents/paper41.pdf}}</ref>

In February 1991, a national conference began; the opposition gained control of the conference. The conference's declaration of its own sovereignty was not challenged by Sassou Nguesso. He was subjected to serious criticism and allegations during the Conference, including a claim from some delegates that he was involved in Ngouabi's assassination.<ref name="Clark">{{cite news|author=John F. Clark|date=1997|editor2=David E. Gardinier|title=Congo: Transition and the Struggle to Consolidate|work=Political Reform in Francophone Africa|pages=68–69|editor1=John F. Clark}}</ref><ref>Kenneth B. Noble, [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEFD6153AF936A15755C0A967958260 "Congo political conference gives Africa a democratic model"], ''The New York Times'', 25 June 1991.</ref>

===1992–1997: First Civil War and election campaigns===
The first round of elections took place on 24 June, and the second on 19 July. Senate elections took place on 26 July. In the [[1992 Republic of the Congo parliamentary election|parliamentary election of June–July 1992]], the PCT won only 19 of 125 seats in the National Assembly; the [[Pan-African Union for Social Democracy]] (UPADS) led by former prime minister Pascal Lissouba, was the largest party. But it could not obtain an absolute majority in the National Assembly, with the [[Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development]] (MCDDI) led by former army General Bernard Kolelas in second position.<ref name=IPU/>

In the [[1992 Republic of the Congo presidential election|August 1992 presidential election]], Sassou Nguesso was eliminated in the first round, placing third with 17% of the vote. He fared poorly everywhere except the north. The second round was held between Lissouba (UPADS) and Kolelas (MCDDI); Sassou Nguesso backed Lissouba, who won in the second round with 61.32% of the vote.<ref name=IPU/>

Lissouba became President of the Republic on 31 August and a new Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Stephane Bongho-Nouarra of UPADS, was formed on 7 August. In the meantime, a new alliance of seven parties, including the MCDDI and the Rally for Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS) was constituted. It was soon joined by the PCT, which was unhappy with the distribution of ministerial portfolios, thus ensuring a new parliamentary majority.

On 31 October, the National Assembly approved a motion of no confidence against Bongho-Nouarra who resigned. On 17 November, President Lissouba dissolved Parliament, announcing elections to break the deadlock. In December, Claude Antoine Dacosta was appointed prime minister at the head of a transitional government.<ref name=IPU>{{Cite web|title=Congo Chambre parlementaire : Sénat {{!}} Élections tenues en 1992|url=http://archive.ipu.org/parline-f/reports/arc/1370_92.htm|access-date=8 August 2021|website=archive.ipu.org/|language=fr}}</ref>

Civil war started in November 1993, when the opposition parties (UDR and PCT) contested the results of the parliamentary elections (October 1993) giving victory to the coalition supporting President Lissouba (Tendance présidentielle).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chambre parlementaire: Assemblée nationale|url=http://archive.ipu.org/parline-f/reports/arc/1071_93.htm|website=archive.ipu.org}}</ref> Armed militia supporting President Lissouba (Cocoyes, Zoulous and Mambas) clashed with Kolelas' Ninjas and Sassous Nguesso's Cobras.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Congo-Brazzaville: Bulletin spécial d'IRIN sur les milices au Congo|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/congo/congo-brazzaville-bulletin-sp%C3%A9cial-dirin-sur-les-milices-au-congo|website=reliefweb.int}}</ref> The conflict ended in December 1995, but left at least 2,000 dead and more than 100,000 displaced.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pourtier|first=Roland|title=1997: les raisons d'une guerre 'incivile'|publisher=UNHCR Centre for Documentation and Research|year=1998|pages=17}}</ref>

After this episode Sassou Nguesso spent seven months in Paris in 1996, returning on 26 January 1997 to contest the presidential election scheduled for July.<ref name="Entre">{{cite web|url=http://www.fidh.org/rapports/congo.htm|title=Entre arbitraire et impunite: les droits de l'homme au Congo-Brazzaville|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114133125/http://www.fidh.org/rapports/congo.htm |archive-date=14 November 2007|url-status=dead|author1=Congolese Human Rights Observatory|author1-link=Congolese Human Rights Observatory|author2=International Federation of Human Rights|author2-link=International Federation of Human Rights|date=April 1998|language=fr|quote=Le 26 janvier 1997, après un séjour de 7 mois en France, Denis Sassou Nguesso est revenu au Congo.|trans-quote=On 26 January 1997, after a [[wikt:sojourn|sojourn]] of seven months in France, Sassou Nguesso returned to the [Republic of the] Congo.}}</ref>

===1997–2008: Second Civil War and return to the presidency===
The second round of the civil war erupted a few weeks before the presidential election.<ref>{{Cite book|title=les raisons d'une guerre 'incivile'|publisher=Afrique contemporaine}}</ref>

In May 1997, a visit by Sassou Nguesso to [[Owando]], Yhombi-Opango's political stronghold, led to the outbreak of violence between his supporters and those of Yhombi-Opango.<ref name="Yengo 1998 471–503">{{Cite journal|last=Yengo|first=Patrice|date=1998|title=" Chacun aura sa part " : les fondements historiques de la (re)production de la " guerre " à Brazzaville|url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/cea_0008-0055_1998_num_38_150_1811|journal=Cahiers d'Études africaines|volume=38|issue=150|pages=471–503|doi=10.3406/cea.1998.1811}}</ref> On 5 June 1997, government forces surrounded Sassou Nguesso's home in the [[Mpila]] section of [[Brazzaville]], attempting to arrest Pierre Aboya and Engobo Bonaventure, who had been implicated in the violence. Fighting broke out between government forces and Cobras, which led to the [[Republic of the Congo Civil War (1997–1999)|second civil war]].

At the beginning of the conflict, Kolelas' militia remained neutral, but on 8 September 1997, he joined the president's camp and became prime minister.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Congo Brazzaville, L'arbitraire de l'Etat, la terreur des milices|url=https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/rap-braz.pdf}}</ref> On 18 September, Angolan troops and airforce entered the battle, providing significant support to Sassou Nguesso. By 14 October a final assault covered by Angolan MiG aircraft was launched on the Presidential Palace and neighborhoods in south Brazzaville,<ref name="Yengo 1998 471–503"/> then on Pointe Noire, against the President's militias (Zoulou, Cocoys, Aubervillois and Mambas) and the Ninjas.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bulletin special d'information sur le Congo-Brazzaville – Congo|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/congo/bulletin-special-dinformation-sur-le-congo-brazzaville|access-date=14 August 2021|website=ReliefWeb|date=23 October 1997 |language=en}}</ref>

By October, Sassou Nguesso was in control, while Lissouba as well as Kolelas and Opango left the country. On 25 October 1997, Sassou Nguesso was sworn in.<ref name="Entre" />

He repealed the 1992 Constitution, and replaced it with a "Fundamental Act" that concentrated power in the President's hands.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Country Information and Policy Unit, Immigration and Nationality Directorate, Home Office, United Kingdom|url=https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/3df4aadc0.pdf}}</ref> General Sassou Nguesso accumulated the functions of President of the Republic, Head of State, Head of Government, Minister of Defense and Supreme Chief of the Armies.<ref name=":2" />
[[File:Lula and Denis Sassous Nguesso 2005-06-13 3.jpg|thumb|[[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]] and Sassou Nguesso in June 2005]]
A government was announced on 2 November 1997; it consisted mainly of members and relatives of the FDU (Forces Démocratiques unifies, a coalition between the PCT and other parties supporting Sassou Nguesso) as well as two members respectively of UPADS and MCDDI, who were not chosen by the presidents in exile.

He also called for a National reconciliation forum. However, the idea was rejected by Lissouba's followers who continued to strike into the region between the country's economic capital, Pointe Noire and Brazzaville, having cut the railway between the coast and Brazzaville for three months. In December 1997 heavy fighting resumed in the capital's southern suburbs (the Pool area) where the Ninja militia clashed with Congolese and Angolan troops and Cobra militiamen. As many as 1,500 may have been killed in the fighting, and thousands more fled to escape the violence.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last1=de Beer |first1=Hanlie |last2=Cornwell |first2=Richard |date=2 September 1999 |title=Congo-Brazzaville: The deep end of the Pool |url=https://issafrica.org/research/papers/congo-brazzaville-the-deep-end-of-the-pool |access-date=14 August 2021 |website=[[Institute for Security Studies]]}}</ref>

The Forum for Unity and National Reconciliation was held from 5 to 8 January 1998 with 1,420 delegates. It decided upon a transitional period of three years, to be followed by elections under a new Constitution.<ref name=":2" /> It also formed a 75-member National Transitional Council (NTC) to act as a legislative body. Members were elected by the forum by mid-January.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Country Information and Policy Unit|url=https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/3df4aadc0.pdf}}</ref> However, violence did not end. By April 1998, militias opposed to Sassou Nguesso operated throughout southern Congo, coordinating their operations. In the beginning of 1999, violence had resumed in Brazzaville.<ref name=":1" /> Peace agreements were signed on 25 December under the auspices of President [[Omar Bongo]] of [[Gabon]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=ACCORD DU 29 DECEMBRE 1999 A BRAZZAVILLE|url=https://www.peaceau.org/uploads/congobraz-29-12-1999.pdf}}</ref> ending the civil war, leaving 8,000–10,000 dead, around 800,000 displaced persons and a devastated country.

[[File:Sassou Nguesso, Bush - 20060605.jpg|thumb|left|215px|Sassou Nguesso and [[George W. Bush]] in the [[Oval Office]] in 2006]]
Presidential elections were held on 10 March 2002. 12 candidates entered the race, but only seven remained throughout the electoral process., Two candidates were disqualified by the Supreme Court on 10 February 2002 while two (Martin Mberi and General Anselme Makoumbou) withdrew from the race, on 6 March, protesting a lack of transparency in the electoral process. On 10 March, two days before the election, Andre Milongo, seen as the main challenger, withdrew, also citing a lack of transparency and calling for a boycott.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Congolese Opposition Leader Withdraws From Presidential Race – 2002-03-09|url=https://www.voanews.com/archive/congolese-opposition-leader-withdraws-presidential-race-2002-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625125002/https://www.voanews.com/archive/congolese-opposition-leader-withdraws-presidential-race-2002-03-09|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 June 2021|access-date=14 August 2021|website=Voice of America|language=en}}</ref>

The elections passed peacefully and Sassou Nguesso won with 89.41% of the votes. Serious malfunctions and acts of manipulation in a few electoral commissions were reported by the [[European Union]] Election Observation Mission, who reported that these acts did not impact the final result, and called for the sanction of those responsible in order to prevent the situation from happening again in the next elections.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CONGO ELECTION PRESIDENTIELLE 10 MARS 2002|url=https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1411900/625_tmpphpogQZdH.pdf}}</ref>

Sassou Nguesso was elected [[Chairperson of the African Union|Chairman]] of the [[African Union]], the OAU's successor body, in January 2006. His election was the result of a compromise reached to prevent the chairmanship from going to [[Omar al-Bashir]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=UA: Denis Sassou Nguesso au lieu d'Omar el-Béchir |date=24 January 2006 |url=https://www.dw.com/fr/ua-denis-sassou-nguesso-au-lieu-domar-el-b%C3%A9chir/a-2886664 |access-date=14 August 2021 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

===2009–2016: Re-election and constitutional referendum===
[[File:Denis Sassou-Nguesso with Obamas.jpg|left|thumb|215px|Sassou Nguesso and [[Antoinette Sassou Nguesso|Antoinette]] with [[Barack Obama|Barack]] and [[Michelle Obama]] in 2009]]
Sassou Nguesso was re-elected as President of the Central Committee of the PCT at the party's Fifth Extraordinary Congress in December 2006.<ref>Willy Mbossa, [http://www.brazzaville-adiac.com/index.php?action=depeche&dep_id=14234&oldaction=liste&regpay_id=0&them_id=0&cat_id=0&ss_cat_id=0&LISTE_FROM=0&select_month=12&select_year=2006 "Denis Sassou Nguesso reconduit à la tête du comité central du Parti congolais du travail"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708093050/http://www.brazzaville-adiac.com/index.php?action=depeche&dep_id=14234&oldaction=liste&regpay_id=0&them_id=0&cat_id=0&ss_cat_id=0&LISTE_FROM=0&select_month=12&select_year=2006 |date=8 July 2011}}, ''Les Dépêches de Brazzaville'', 30 December 2006 {{in lang|fr}}.</ref> He was re-elected in the July 2009 presidential election with 78.61% of the vote amidst an opposition boycott. He said that his re-election meant continued "peace, stability and security", and he called for an end to "thinking like ... freeloaders" in reference to international aid. At his inauguration Sassou Nguesso announced that he would support an amnesty bill to pardon Lissouba, who had gone into exile after his 1997 ouster and was convicted of crimes ''in absentia''. Sassou Nguesso said that he wanted the amnesty bill to be presented to Parliament by the end of 2009.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140225075845/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g_1c-B0FlV37Bpumy0UGd69KnElw "Congo leader in pardon for ex-president at start of new term"], AFP, 14 August 2009.</ref> As Congo-Brazzaville prepared to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its independence from France in 2010, Sassou Nguesso noted that the country had far to go in fully realizing the dream of independence: "Our country will not be totally independent until our people are free of the yoke of poverty."<ref>[https://archive.today/20130124192312/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gzFgzuy0Lp0LPYqvZp7iaBQ3YmaQ "Congo celebrates 50 years independence"], AFP, 15 August 2010.</ref>
[[File:Denis Sassou-Nguesso & Vladimir Putin - 2019.jpg|thumb|225px|[[Vladimir Putin]] with Sassou Nguesso at a ceremony for exchanging documents signed following Russia-Congo talks, May 2019]]
On 27 March 2015 Sassou Nguesso announced that his government would hold [[2015 Republic of the Congo constitutional referendum|a referendum to change the 2002 constitution]], which would allow him to run for a third consecutive term.<ref>Aaron Ross, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-congo-president-idUSKBN0MN25N20150327 "Congo Republic president says expects referendum over third term"], Reuters, 27 March 2015.</ref> The proposal was overwhelmingly approved by voters, with 92.96% in favor. Turnout was officially placed at 72.44%.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/more-90-vote-allow-congo-leaders-bid-extend-071858967.html "More than 90% vote to allow Congo leader's bid to extend rule"], Agence France-Presse, 27 October 2015.</ref> However the opposition argued that due to low turnout, the results should be annulled.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 October 2015 |title=Congo referendum should be annulled due to low turnout, opposition says |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-congo-politics-idUSKCN0SK1C120151026 |access-date=23 July 2022}}</ref>

On 20 March 2016, Sassou Nguesso ran for a third consecutive term of 5 years and was [[2016 Republic of the Congo presidential election|reelected in the first round]] with 60% of the vote.<ref name="Elion">{{Cite news|last=Elion|first=Christian|date=24 March 2016|title=Congo's Sassou Nguesso wins re-election, opposition vows protests|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-congo-election-idUSKCN0WQ0MQ|access-date=15 August 2021}}</ref>

Opposition leader Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas finished second with 15 percent of the vote while retired general [[Jean-Marie Mokoko]], a former security adviser to Sassou Nguesso, came third with 14 percent.

For the first time in the history of the Republic, these elections were supervised by an independent commission (CNEI: Commission Nationale Electorale Indépendante). The opposition rejected the outcome, alleging fraud and calling for [[civil disobedience]].<ref name="Elion"/>

===2021: Re-election===
[[File:Deputy Secretary Sherman Meets With ROC President N’Guesso (52567827420).jpg|thumb|225px|Sassou Nguesso with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State [[Wendy Sherman]] in 2022]]
During the [[2021 Republic of the Congo presidential election|presidential election that took place on 21 March 2021]], Sassou Nguessou, who faced six challengers for the presidency, came first once again, garnering 88.4% of the votes. His main challenger, [[Guy Brice Parfait Kolélas]], finished second with 7.96%, [[Mathias Dzon]] received 1.92%, and the other four candidates each received less than 1% each.<ref name="ConstCourt_RepCongoBrazzaville" />

In December 2022, he attended the [[United States–Africa Leaders Summit 2022]] in Washington, D.C. and met with US President [[Joe Biden]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2022 |title=Africa: Heads of Delegation for U.S–Africa Leaders Summit – White House |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202212130597.html |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=[[AllAfrica]] |language=en}}</ref> 

In July 2023, he attended the [[2023 Russia–Africa Summit]] in Saint Petersburg and met with Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]]. During the summit, Nguesso called for [[Peace negotiations in the Russian invasion of Ukraine|peace]] in [[Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Congo Republic leader urges end to Russia-Ukraine conflict |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/congo-republic-leader-urges-end-russia-ukraine-conflict-2023-07-28/ |work=Reuters |date=28 July 2023}}</ref>