Republic of the Congo presidential election, 1992
Encyclopedia
Presidential elections were held in the Republic of the Congo
in August 1992, marking the end of the transitional period that began with the February–June 1991 National Conference. It was won by Pascal Lissouba
of the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy
(UPADS), who defeated Bernard Kolélas
of the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development
(MCDDI) in a second round of voting.
In the first round, held on 8 August, Lissouba, who had served as Prime Minister in the 1960s, placed first with 36% of the vote, outperforming Kolélas, an opposition figure since the 1960s, who won 20%, and Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the former ruling party, the Congolese Labor Party (PCT), who won 17%. Sassou-Nguesso had been President since 1979 but only in a ceremonial capacity since the National Conference. Prime Minister André Milongo
, who led the country during the transition but whose government had lost its responsibility for organizing the election after the local election of May 1992 proved controversial, ran as an independent candidate and placed fourth with 10%. Two former leading figures of the PCT, Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya
of the Rally for Democracy and Social Progress
(RDPS) and Joachim Yhombi-Opango
of the Rally for Democracy and Development
(RDD), placed fifth and sixth with 6% and 3% respectively.
In the first round, Lissouba enjoyed overwhelming support in the three regions collectively known as Nibolek—Niari
(88.7%), Bouenza
(80.6%), and Lékoumou
(91.7%). Kolélas won a first round majority only in the Pool Region
(64.4%), although he also won a plurality in Brazzaville
, the capital (29.9%). Sassou-Nguesso dominated the north, winning first round majorities in Plateaux
(57.6%) and Likouala
(58.5%) and pluralities in Cuvette
(47.9%) and Sangha
(41.9%). Tchicaya and Yhombi-Opango made strong showings in certain regions—the former won 28% of the vote (behind Lissouba's 40%) in Kouilou Region
, which includes Pointe-Noire
, the country's second largest city, and the latter won 27% of the vote in Cuvette Region.
With Sassou-Nguesso's support, Lissouba defeated Kolélas in the second round with 61% of the vote. Lissouba won all regions in the second round except Brazzaville, Pool, and Kouilou.
Voter turnout was 59.6% in the first round and 61.6% in the second.
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...
in August 1992, marking the end of the transitional period that began with the February–June 1991 National Conference. It was won by 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....
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), who defeated Bernard Kolélas
Bernard Kolélas
Bernard Bakana Kolélas was a Congolese politician and President of the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development...
of the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development
Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development
The Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development is a political party in the Republic of the Congo, led by Bernard Kolélas....
(MCDDI) in a second round of voting.
In the first round, held on 8 August, Lissouba, who had served as Prime Minister in the 1960s, placed first with 36% of the vote, outperforming Kolélas, an opposition figure since the 1960s, who won 20%, and Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the former ruling party, the Congolese Labor Party (PCT), who won 17%. Sassou-Nguesso had been President since 1979 but only in a ceremonial capacity since the National Conference. Prime Minister André Milongo
André Milongo
André Ntsatouabantou Milongo was a Congolese politician who served as Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo from June 1991 to August 1992. He was chosen by the 1991 National Conference to lead the country during its transition to multiparty elections, which were held in 1992...
, who led the country during the transition but whose government had lost its responsibility for organizing the election after the local election of May 1992 proved controversial, ran as an independent candidate and placed fourth with 10%. Two former leading figures of the PCT, Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya
Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya
Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya was a Congolese politician. He was briefly Acting Head of State of the Republic of the Congo in February 1979 and was President of the National Assembly of the Republic of the Congo from 2002 to 2007...
of the Rally for Democracy and Social Progress
Rally for Democracy and Social Progress
The Rally for Democracy and Social Progress is a political party in the Republic of the Congo, founded by Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya....
(RDPS) and Joachim Yhombi-Opango
Joachim Yhombi-Opango
Jacques Joachim Yhombi Opango is a Congolese politician. He was an army officer who became Congo-Brazzaville's first general and served as Head of State of Congo-Brazzaville from 1977 to 1979. He is currently the President of the Rally for Democracy and Development , a political party, and served...
of the Rally for Democracy and Development
Rally for Democracy and Development
The Rally for Democracy and Development is a political party in the Republic of the Congo. It has been one of the main participants in a coalition known as the African Socialist Movement-Congolese Progressive Party .The RDD was founded in 1990 under the leadership of former Head of State Joachim...
(RDD), placed fifth and sixth with 6% and 3% respectively.
In the first round, Lissouba enjoyed overwhelming support in the three regions collectively known as Nibolek—Niari
Niari Region
Niari is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the western part of the country. It borders the departments of Bouenza, Kouilou, and Lékoumou, and internationally, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Cabinda portion of Angola. The regional capital is Dolisie.Niari is divided...
(88.7%), Bouenza
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...
(80.6%), and Lékoumou
Lékoumou Region
Lékoumou is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the southern part of the country. It borders the departments of Bouenza, Niari, Plateaux, and Pool, and the nation of Gabon. The regional capital is Sibiti...
(91.7%). Kolélas won a first round majority only in the Pool Region
Pool Region
Pool is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the southeastern part of the country. It borders the departments of Bouenza, Lékoumou, and Plateaux, and internationally, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also surrounds the commune district of the national capital, Brazzaville. The...
(64.4%), although he also won a plurality in Brazzaville
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...
, the capital (29.9%). Sassou-Nguesso dominated the north, winning first round majorities in Plateaux
Plateaux Region
Plateaux Region may refer to*Plateaux Region, Congo*Plateaux Region, Togo...
(57.6%) and Likouala
Likouala Region
Likouala is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the northern part of the country. It borders the departments of Cuvette and Sangha, and internationally, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. The region has an area of 66,044 km² and an estimated...
(58.5%) and pluralities in Cuvette
Cuvette Region
Cuvette is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the central part of the country. It borders the departments of Cuvette-Ouest, Likouala, Plateaux, and Sangha, and internationally, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The capital is Owando...
(47.9%) and Sangha
Sangha Region
Sangha is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the northern part of the country. It borders the departments of Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, and Likouala, and internationally, Cameroon, Gabon and the Central African Republic. The regional capital is Ouésso...
(41.9%). Tchicaya and Yhombi-Opango made strong showings in certain regions—the former won 28% of the vote (behind Lissouba's 40%) in Kouilou Region
Kouilou Region
Kouilou is a department of the Republic of the Congo. Covering the country's coastline, it has an area of 13,694 square kilometres and at the start of 2007 it was home to about 806,670 people . The department borders Niari Department, and internationally, Gabon and the Cabinda area of Angola...
, which includes Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire is the second largest city in the Republic of the Congo, following the capital of Brazzaville, and an autonomous department since 2004. Before this date it was the capital of the Kouilou region . It is situated on a headland between Pointe-Noire Bay and the Atlantic Ocean...
, the country's second largest city, and the latter won 27% of the vote in Cuvette Region.
With Sassou-Nguesso's support, Lissouba defeated Kolélas in the second round with 61% of the vote. Lissouba won all regions in the second round except Brazzaville, Pool, and Kouilou.
Voter turnout was 59.6% in the first round and 61.6% in the second.
Results
| Candidate | Party | First round | Second round | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| 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.... |
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.... |
282,020 | 35.89 | 506,395 | 61.32 |
| Bernard Kolélas Bernard Kolélas Bernard Bakana Kolélas was a Congolese politician and President of the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development... |
Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development The Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development is a political party in the Republic of the Congo, led by Bernard Kolélas.... |
159,682 | 20.32 | 319,396 | 38.68 |
| Denis Sassou-Nguesso | Congolese Party of Labour Congolese Party of Labour The Congolese Party of Labour , founded in 1969 by Marien Ngouabi, is the ruling political party of the Republic of the Congo... |
131,346 | 16.87 | ||
| André Milongo André Milongo André Ntsatouabantou Milongo was a Congolese politician who served as Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo from June 1991 to August 1992. He was chosen by the 1991 National Conference to lead the country during its transition to multiparty elections, which were held in 1992... |
Independent | 79,979 | 10.18 | ||
| Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya was a Congolese politician. He was briefly Acting Head of State of the Republic of the Congo in February 1979 and was President of the National Assembly of the Republic of the Congo from 2002 to 2007... |
Rally for Democracy and Social Progress Rally for Democracy and Social Progress The Rally for Democracy and Social Progress is a political party in the Republic of the Congo, founded by Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya.... |
45,466 | 5.78 | ||
| Joachim Yhombi-Opango Joachim Yhombi-Opango Jacques Joachim Yhombi Opango is a Congolese politician. He was an army officer who became Congo-Brazzaville's first general and served as Head of State of Congo-Brazzaville from 1977 to 1979. He is currently the President of the Rally for Democracy and Development , a political party, and served... |
Rally for Democracy and Development Rally for Democracy and Development The Rally for Democracy and Development is a political party in the Republic of the Congo. It has been one of the main participants in a coalition known as the African Socialist Movement-Congolese Progressive Party .The RDD was founded in 1990 under the leadership of former Head of State Joachim... |
27,953 | 3.49 | ||
| Charles David Ganao | Union of Democratic Forces Union of Democratic Forces (Republic of the Congo) The Union of Democratic Forces is a political party in the Republic of the Congo. In the parliamentary election held on June 24 and August 5 2007, the party won 1 out of 137 seats.... |
22,514 | 2.86 | ||
| Paul Kaya | Independent | 15,277 | 1.94 | ||
| Gongarad N'koua | Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress The Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress is a political party in the Republic of the Congo... |
5,272 | 0.69 | ||
| Clement Mierassa Clément Miérassa Clément Miérassa is a Congolese politician who has been President of the Congolese Social Democratic Party since 1990. He served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of Trade from 1991 to 1992 and as Minister of Industrial Development from 1992 to 1993... |
Congolese Social Democratic Party | 4,298 | 0.67 | ||
| Jean-Martin M'bembé | Union for Progress | 3,558 | 0.45 | ||
| Alphonse Souchlaty Poaty | Republican Union for Progress | 2,378 | 0.30 | ||
| Agèle Bandou | RDPSEL | 980 | 0.12 | ||
| Makangou Loukamy | Friendly Union for Complete Change | 649 | 0.08 | ||
| A. C. Kouba | Rally for Unity, Democracy and Liberty | 413 | 0.05 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 8,200 | ||||
| 6,036 | |||||
| Total | 794,181 | 100 | 831,827 | 100 | |
| Source: Nohlen et al | |||||