Marien Ngouabi or simply a Congolese tragedy

According to Anani Rabier Bindji, the plot hatched by Denis Sassou Nguesso to distant Joachim Yhombi-Opango from Marien Ngouabi was just a ruse from Denis Sassou Nguesso to have a free way to do whatever he wanted against Marien Ngouabi. He was euphemistically claiming that, Denis Sassou Nguesso was the assassin of Marien Ngouabi. However, during another informal conversation that, I had with Anani Rabier Bindji, he told me something different. And it was as intriguing as the first story on the assassination of Commandant Marien Ngouabi. He told me that, Marien Ngouabi had decided to bring Denis Sassou Nguesso closer to him because he (Marien Ngouabi) was afraid of Joachim Yhombi-Opango. “Why?”  I asked. According to Anani Rabier Bindji, Marien Ngouabi and Joachim Yhombi-Opango are both from the same locality and he added that, Marien Ngouabi was afraid of Joachim Yhombi-Opango because, the second’s father was a dreaded witch doctor. Hence Marien Ngouabi in need for protection brought Denis Sassou Nguesso, near him because Denis Sassou Nguesso’s father was also a dreaded witchdoctor from Edou. And more, Denis Sassou Nguesso had already been introduced into witchcraft at the age of ten years old in the sacred forest of Edou.

In other words, Marien Ngouabi brought Denis Sassou Nguesso near him as a shield against any possible mythical attacks from Joachim Yhombi-Opango or his father. For it is well known that, children from parents with mythical powers are more often than not initiated into the mythical order of their parents. While it is not known whether Joachim Yhombi-Opango was initiated into any mythical order, but what is known as that, Denis Sassou Nguesso was initiated and he has proudly written about it. The bizarre aspect in this, is that, how on earth could it be possible for Denis Sassou Nguesso who was  called to act as a protector of Marien Ngouabi, decides to kill his protégé(Marien Ngouabi)? The secret may lie in another version on the reason why, Denis Sassou Nguesso may have decided to kill Marien Ngouabi and in this version, the cause has nothing political or ideological, but a mixture of jealousy and the biblical eve, who in this case is Antoinette, the current wife of Denis Sassou Nguesso.  However, I am of the opinion that, the truth may never be known because no one is interested in the truth to be known because at the end, it seems Marien Ngouabi had several enemies and all wanted him dead than alive.

It is simply a Congolese tragedy which is as confusing as the country and those running it. There are several versions and several suspects and causes, but one name that always stands accused is Denis Sassou Nguesso. One thing is clear, it will be almost impossible to know the truth on the assassination of Marien Ngouabi. It is also an assassination that also triggered assassinations of several other people and in particular, Alphonse Massamba-Debat and Arch Bishop Emile Biayenda. Then I asked him: “how come that, Denis Sassou Nguesso had a free hand to operate, the way you seem to have written?” He replied: “it was because; he was the Minister of defense and also in charge of security, since he had maneuvered for Joachim Yhombi-Opango to be sacked as Army Joint Chief of Staff and he was also the one who gave or detached aide camps to the officers including the president.