Joachim Yhombi-Opango facts for kids

Jacques Joachim Yhombi-Opango (born January 12, 1939 – died March 30, 2020) was an important politician from the Republic of the Congo. He started his career as an army officer and became the first general in Congo-Brazzaville. He served as the country's leader, known as the Head of State, from 1977 to 1979.

Later, he led a political party called the Rally for Democracy and Development (RDD). He also held the position of Prime Minister from 1993 to 1996. After a civil war in 1997, he lived outside the country until 2007.

Early Life and Family

Joachim Yhombi-Opango was born on January 12, 1939. His birthplace was Fort Rousset, which is now called Owando. This town is located in the Cuvette Region in the northern part of Congo. He was married to Marie-Noëlle Ngollo, and they had several children together.

Political Journey

Yhombi-Opango had a long career in the politics and military of Congo. He held several important roles throughout his life.

Early Military and Party Roles

Under President Marien Ngouabi, Yhombi-Opango became the Army Chief of Staff. This meant he was in charge of the country's army. He was briefly suspended from this job in 1970 but was later given the position back.

He was also a member of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT), which was the ruling political party at the time. In 1972, he became a member of the PCT's Central Committee. The next year, in January 1973, he was promoted to Colonel and joined the PCT's Political Bureau. This was a very important group within the party. He also worked as a delegate for defense matters.

Becoming President

In March 1977, President Ngouabi was sadly assassinated. After this event, Yhombi-Opango became the new Head of State of the People's Republic of the Congo. He led the country for almost two years.

However, in February 1979, he was forced to step down from his position. He was accused of trying to create a separate group within the ruling party. Because of this, his successor, President Denis Sassou Nguesso, kept him in detention for several years. He was also placed under house arrest, meaning he could not leave his home freely. His property was taken away, and he was even demoted from a general back to a private in the army.

President Sassou Nguesso announced Yhombi-Opango's release on November 10, 1984. This was done to help bring the country together and promote peace.

In 1987, Yhombi-Opango was arrested again. This was because he was linked to a group of officers who were accused of planning to overthrow the government. He was released again on August 14, 1990, along with other political prisoners. This release marked the 30th anniversary of Congo's independence.

Serving as Prime Minister

After his release, Yhombi-Opango ran for president in the August 1992 election. He came in sixth place. Later, he formed an alliance with President Pascal Lissouba.

In June 1993, President Lissouba appointed Yhombi-Opango as Prime Minister. This is a very important role in the government. However, there was a big political disagreement about the election results. Yhombi-Opango resigned in January 1995 to allow the President to form a new government. He was quickly reappointed as Prime Minister with a new team.

In 1996, some members of the President's party wanted a Prime Minister from their own ethnic group. So, Yhombi-Opango resigned again on August 23, 1996. Charles David Ganao took his place a few days later.

In 1997, a civil war started in Congo. Yhombi-Opango supported President Lissouba during this war. After Sassou-Nguesso won the war, Yhombi-Opango left the country. He lived in Côte d'Ivoire and France for many years.

Life in Exile

While in exile, Yhombi-Opango continued to be involved in politics. In 2001, he joined other exiled politicians to speak out against the elections happening in Congo. They believed the elections were not fair.

He was also charged with misusing public money in late 2001. He was sentenced to 20 years of hard labor while he was not in the country. This charge was about a deal to sell oil in 1993. The money from this deal was supposedly not put into the country's treasury. However, his defense argued that there was no other choice for the deal and that the money was used to pay overdue wages and organize elections.

In 2005, there was a disagreement within his political party, the RDD. Yhombi-Opango, still in exile, wanted the party to work with the ruling party. But the person leading the party in Congo refused.

Returning Home

In May 2007, the Congolese government approved an amnesty for Yhombi-Opango. This meant he could return home without facing charges. He came back to Congo-Brazzaville on August 10, 2007. Many of his supporters were there to welcome him.

In September 2007, Yhombi-Opango officially took back the leadership of his party, the RDD. He announced his plans to reorganize the party and make it stronger in the country's politics.

From 2007 until his death in 2020, Yhombi-Opango and his wife spent their time between Congo and France.

Yhombi-Opango's son Jean-Jacques, a vice president of the RDD

Later Life and Passing

Joachim Yhombi-Opango spent over a year in France for medical reasons before returning to Brazzaville in June 2013.

He passed away on March 30, 2020, at the American Hospital of Paris in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. He was 81 years old. His death was caused by COVID-19. His son, Jean-Jacques Yhombi Opango, confirmed the sad news. Congo's national television also reported his passing.

He was buried in his hometown of Owando, Congo, on October 31, 2020.

See also

In Spanish: Joachim Yhombi-Opango para niños