Aloïse Moudileno Massengo facts for kids
Aloïse Moudileno-Massengo (born March 11, 1933 – died January 6, 2020) was a very important person in the Republic of the Congo. He was the first lawyer from Congo to practice law in France. Later, he became a minister and even the Vice-President of Congo under presidents Alphonse Massamba-Débat and Marien Ngouabi.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Growing Up and School
Aloïse Moudileno-Massengo was born in 1933 in a place called Vindza, in the Pool region of Congo. He was the second child in his family.
In 1947, he went to primary school in Kindamba. A year later, in 1948, he attended a small seminary in Mbamou. There, he met other young Congolese who would later become important political leaders.
Studying in France
After finishing high school in Congo, he went to France for higher education. He first studied at Lycée Poincaré in Nancy.
Later, he decided to study law. In 1957, he joined the University of Nancy law school. He made many friends there, including Emmanuel Yoka and André Milongo. In 1963, he earned his law degree.
Becoming a Lawyer
First Congolese Lawyer in France
Even though he had his law degree, the Nancy Bar Association in France first said no to his request to become a lawyer. They said it was because he was not a French citizen.
However, Aloïse Moudileno-Massengo fought this decision. He took his case to court and won! On March 4, 1964, the court ruled in his favor.
At 31 years old, he became the first Congolese lawyer to join a French bar association. He was also the first Black member of the Nancy bar. He worked there until 1966.
Practicing Law in Congo
Aloïse Moudileno-Massengo returned to Congo in late 1966. On January 13, 1967, he was named a defense attorney in the Appeals Court of Brazzaville. This made him the first lawyer to join the Brazzaville bar association in Congo.
He was also active in student groups, like the Association of Congolese Students. He was even the editor of a student journal called Étudiant Congolais. In 1968, he attended a United Nations conference in Austria as a lawyer. Soon after, he left his law practice to join the government.
Role in Government
Serving as a Minister
In August 1968, President Alphonse Massemba-Débat appointed Moudileno-Massengo as the Minister of Justice and Labor. At 35, he was part of a new group of young, educated leaders.
When Captain Marien Ngouabi became president in September 1968, he kept Moudileno-Massengo in his role. As Minister of Justice, Moudileno-Massengo worked to improve conditions for prisoners. He wanted to make sure they were treated with respect and had access to education.
He stayed in his position through several government changes. By June 1969, he was the third most important person in the government.
Rise to Vice-President
During this time, the government in Congo became more focused on Marxist ideas. In 1969, the ruling party changed its name to the Congolese Party of Labor (PCT). A new constitution created the Popular Republic of the Congo.
In 1971, there was tension within the ruling party. President Ngouabi reorganized the government. Moudileno-Massengo's power grew, and he became the Vice-President of the Republic.
In February 1972, there was an attempted coup (a sudden takeover of power) led by Ange Diawara. Moudileno-Massengo was arrested and put in prison. However, he was soon freed.
As Vice-President, he traveled to many countries for diplomatic missions. He represented Congo at the funeral of former Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah in May 1972. However, his influence began to lessen as President Ngouabi took more power for himself.
Opposition Leader and Exile
Leaving the Government
In August 1972, while on a trip to Germany, Moudileno-Massengo resigned from his position. Congolese radio announced that he had "abandoned his duties." He sent a letter to President Ngouabi explaining their political differences.
He then became a leader of the main opposition movement outside of Congo. In 1976, he created the FDRCO, which was considered the largest opposition party in exile.
Speaking Out from Exile
From 1979 to 1991, Moudileno-Massengo remained a strong voice against the government of Denis Sassou-Nguesso. He led the Congolese Patriotic Front, and later the Congolese Patriotic Movement (MPC).
In 1985, the US Commerce Department recognized the MPC as the main opposition party in exile. However, they also noted that its impact was limited because Sassou-Nguesso was good at weakening the opposition.
Return to Congo and Later Life
Multi-Party System and Conference
In 1990, Moudileno-Massengo published a document called "Call to the Nation." Many opposition parties signed it. In February 1991, he took part in the Sovereign National Conference, which aimed to bring more democracy to Congo.
Some people thought he might become the next president. However, he supported André Milongo, who became the transitional prime minister in 1991.
In April 1992, Moudileno-Massengo was appointed First Deputy Director General of Elf-Congo, an oil company. His role was to help renegotiate oil agreements to benefit Congo more. However, in 1994, the Congolese state sold its share in the company, and his position was removed.
In 1993, he helped create the Democratic Center party. This party suggested ways to reduce corruption in politics, but their ideas were rejected.
Civil War and Final Exile
From 1994 onwards, political power in Congo became more about military strength and ethnic groups. Because Moudileno-Massengo's party refused to follow these trends, it slowly lost influence.
The civil war in Congo-Brazzaville in 1997 ended with Sassou-Nguesso winning. Aloïse Moudileno-Massengo went back into exile in France, where he lived from 1998.
Death
Aloïse Moudileno-Massengo passed away on January 6, 2020, in Nancy, France.
Works
- République populaire du Congo : une escroquerie idéologique ou Au cœur du long drame. 1, Les Faits, G. P. Maisonneuve et Larose, 1975.
- Procès de Brazzaville, le réquisitoire, Paris, [5 février 1978], L’Harmattan, 1986.
- Devant un observatoire à Paris : dimanche 18 novembre 2001, éditeur [Nancy] (5 rue Duc-Raoul, 54000), 2001
- Ntoumi : l'alibi, le démenti, le défi, Nancy (5 rue Duc-Raoul, 54000), 2002.
- Le temps du dialogue et de la reconstruction: Congo-Brazzaville, Nancy (5 rue Duc-Raoul, 54000), 2002
See Also
- History of the Republic of the Congo
- Politics of the Republic of the Congo
