Congo Brazzaville:Consequences of Denis Sassou Nguesso's long stay in power

Consequences

There are several adverse effects that the Kleptocracy imposed by Denis Sassou Nguesso has done in the Republic Congo. The first victim of Sassou Nguesso’s long misrule, is Democracy and the second, is the absence of free speech. And because the Nguessos, through Kleptocracy have amassed enormous wealth, they are today present in all aspects of life in country. Furthermore, all gains made in the democratic dispensation of the 90s, which culminated with the holding of the country’s first post independence genuine democratic presidential election have been reversed.  A prove that, democracy in Congo has reversed its progress is that, today, the Republic of Congo is not only a violent dictatorship, she has become a Kleptocracy. Besides the Republic of Benin, Congo was one of the rare countries in French-speaking black Africa that held a sovereign national conference, to discuss and prepare the country from one party rule to multiparty democracy. And as a direct result of holding the sovereign national conference, Congo as already mentioned, held its first post independence democratic general elections that were won by Pascal Lissouba and the PCT, lost its majority in parliament in favour of the UPADS. The other consequences of the long reign of Denis Sassou Nguesso are excessive corruption, immorality and laziness. Furthermore, the excessive accumulation of illicit wealth by the Nguessos equally obstructs the advancement of genuine democracy because they buy political loyalties, precisely by corrupting members of the opposition and civil society organisations.  The trend in Congo Brazzaville of the creation of fictitious political parties and civil society organisations is equally a direct result of manipulations orchestrated Denis Sassou Nguesso and his clan, the Nguessos. Besides using their wealth to destroy genuine opposition political parties, civil society organisations and control the press, they have also bought or are investing massively in the purchase of weapons for the national army and also the Congolese Police Force. By arming the security forces, especially the Congolese Police, which is headed by General Jean Francois Ndenguet, the ruling Nguesso family are shielding or protecting themselves from any eventual uprising from the population. Any attempt by the population to rise or protest the misrule of Denis Sassou Nguesso is violent repressed by a Police force that is known for its brutality and human rights violations. And that partly explained the reason why, major political party leaders of the opposition, civil society activists and journalists are either in jail or banned from holding meetings or carrying out any activity independently.

Recommendations:

Kleptocracy is detrimental to democracy and economic development in any country where it is practiced. Sadly, this form of governance is not only practiced in Congo Brazzaville but in almost all countries within the sub region albeit with some variations as already mentioned. While in countries where Kleptocracy is practiced, citizens don’t fold their arms or are resigned, they try as best as they can, to fight against entrenched Kleptocratic values through one form or the other. However, as the examples of the cases of Burundi, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, DRC and Congo has shown, in spite all internal efforts carried out by prodemocracy activists, without the support of the international community, Kleptocratic systems can’t be conquered easily. Hence the fight to end Kleptocracy in Congo Brazzaville can only be successful with the help of the international community and it must not be a country focused fight only, but expanded regionally or in all countries where Kleptocracy exist. If the international community ever decides to fight sincerely and boldly against Kleptocracy, it should have a strategy that is synonymous to casting a wide dragnet around leaders of countries such as Congo, DRC, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Angola and Chad. This is so because the leaders of the aforementioned countries are those promoting and sustaining Kleptocracy, the most within the region. In my humble opinion the following steps should be used by the international community to weaken and eventually destroy all Kleptocracies that are expanding around the central Africa region:

                        - A name and shame campaigns with the help of the international community should be launched in local and international media, in order to expose Kleptocrats and those supporting them

                        -Kleptocrats and their supporters should be restricted from purchasing properties in western countries. Their families and close family members should equally be restricted from sending their children in western school schools or being given medical treatment in western countries.

                        -The international community should support journalists, journalist trade unions and independent media in the areas of investigative journalism.

                        -The US government must increase its influence in the promotion of liberal democracy in countries targeted by the scourge of Kleptocracy and if necessary, use its military power to overthrow dictatorial regimes and also use military might to enforce liberal democracy, which is the only deterrent against the expansion of Kleptocracy.

-Furthermore, the US should use its influence on France by forcing or compelling her to change her blind eye approach toward Congo Brazzaville and other dictatorships/Kleptocracies within the sub region.

Pierre Mabiala MP: Profile of an opportunist government minister

Pierre Mabiala MP: he is a government minister and Member of Parliament for Makabana electoral constituency, located in the Niari region of southern Congo. Like most new converts, he zealously shows that, he is in support of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and his ruling party, the PCT. He is combative and always willing to come and take part in radio and television for debates or shows, which has something to do with the defense and promotion of the President or to talk about his ministerial department. That is perhaps the only positive point that I have noticed with him unlike other government ministers. But in spite his zealotry in calling for the change of the constitution, which will permit the President to stand for a third  mandate , that he is constitutionally barred, he is not love or respected within the ruling party, especially by the loyal supporters and some family members of the president of the Republic. Why? The reason is simple. They claim that, the same zeal with which he is now showing or manifesting for the current president was the same, which he did when he was working for the only post independent democratically elected President of Congo, Professor Pascal Lissouba. But Pierre Mabiala rejects such accusations and suspicions that he is subjected to, with a wave from his large palm. He says, he is a changed man today and has witnessed the changes carried out by President Denis Sassou Nguesso, since he violently took power in 1997.

Hence, he is now his fanatical supporter. He also says that, all those scheming against him are simply jealous of his proximity to the President of the Republic. Pierre Mabiala is therefore considered by some loyalists of the President as a traitor, who will betray the President of the Republic again, should the opportunity shows up.  Another character of Pierre Mabiala is that, he a very bellicose man who doesn’t entertain contradictions. But, he is nonetheless generous, whenever he wants to and this especially toward women who are faire in complexion. At his ministry, he is always seen on the field supervising work and seldom likes to delegate responsibilities to his directors or close collaborators. While some people do appreciates his presence on the field, which is almost always accompanied with TV crews others are of the opinion that, his professional activism is an indication of his eccentric attitude or a desire to please the president. Some eve think that, his conduct  exposes and confirms the country as dictatorship, for as a member of the executive branch of government, he is regularly seen ordering homes and other structures to be demolished without due process or waiting for  court orders or the judiciary to adjudicate.  Whenever he is out to operate, he is always dressed in his trademark Texas Cowboy hat and dons an orange over-roll. He supervises demolitions of buildings wantonly and sometimes orders demolished buildings and houses to be vandalized. It is perhaps the only time when his former populists and extreme left leanings reflex, reappears.  

His collaborators describe him as a living terror. They can’t challenge him or make any proposals, for his reign in his ministerial department is synonymous to that of a bully. A former university trade unionist and lawyer, Pierre Mabiala is an opportunistic political figure with no clear cut ideology or principles. All that he is interested in is to get rich and also place his family and some of his very few chosen friends beyond wants. It is reported that, he tells everyone within his region who wants to hear that, he hates President Denis Sassou Nguesso and also that, he can never forget what the current President did to Pascal Lissouba.  Those who propagate the above also claims that, even adds that, if he has any chance to betray the Denis Sassou Nguesso, whom, he referred to in an interview that I conducted with him as the “younger brother” to Pascal Lissouba, he won’t hesitate. What he says in private in a country where there is no secret and where everyone spies on everyone, definitely comes to the ears of people who hate him. And it becomes fuel in the tanks of his enemies. What he has said or not, positively or negatively against the president is exactly the reason why, no one within the ruling party believes in him, perhaps only the President of the Republic. He also claims to be a nephew to Maurice Nguesso, the elder brother of President Denis Sassou Nguesso.

But he fails to justify his filial relationship through genealogy, tribe or region. What he has stopped short is to change his tribe to become an ethnic Mbouchi, the tribe of the President of the Republic. He is a classic example of most Congolese elite: triple personage. He says a thing, acts differently and thinks differently. He is also a professional praise singer to the President and like most politicians and elite in Congo, he is indecisive and also an inveterate womanizer. Every young girl or woman, in particular those who are light skin, he promises the newly elected a trip to Pointe Noire and a furnished rented apartment. Although he is not liked by bona fide members of the ruling party and also by some members of the ruling Nguesso family, he could still play a role in Congolese politics as far as Denis Sassou Nguesso is still in power, for he has made himself indispensable, even though in politics, like in life, no one is indispensable. But after President Denis Sassou Nguesso is gone from power, I doubt whether he would have any future or role to play in the Congolese political realm.

This is so because; he has created a lot of enemies, because of the zeal with which he has invested in demolishing the homes of people in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire in a bid to respect the national and urban construction master plan. He is also accused of land grab by some Congolese. While what he is doing in his ministerial department as far as the respect of urban master plan is noble and courageous, some people think that, he is selective. For he acts without mercy against people who are not well connected or poor. But he is careful and respectful with the rich and powerful. He doesn’t force people who well connected to respect the urban master plan of the country. They are not mistreated and spoken down to, as he does with the poor. There are others who think nonetheless that, Pierre Mabiala is being used or exploited by President Denis Sassou Nguesso, hence he has given him a ministerial post that requires him to do or deliver very unpopular task: respect of the national urban master plan. In order for it to work or in order for the policy to be implemented in a country that has seen rapid population growth, massive demolitions of homes are inevitable. And this is a very unpopular task in a country where people are poor.  How or what will you or will he tell a family head, who saved throughout his life to buy a plot of land and erect a dwelling for his family, that, his hard earned home, will be demolished because he/she has not respected the country’s urban master plan? Where do they go to after their homes have been destroyed?  Such is the mammoth task that, Pierre Mabiala shoulders and he seems to enjoy it, at least, in public. 

Firmin Ayessa MP aka Max or Fox: presentable face of Denis Sassou Nguesso(profile)

Firmin Ayessa MP aka Max or Fox:  he is Congo’s minister of state and Member of Parliament for Makoua electoral constituency in the north of the country and Director of Cabinet or chief of staff of the President. He is therefore a kind of prime minister in a presidential system that Congo is. Mr Ayessa is a former journalist who has always been close to the president of the Republic. Professionally speaking, I don’t think that besides heading or holding managerial posts of responsibilities at the Congolese News Agency abbreviated in French as ACI and in pseudo private paper, he has had any major impact on Congolese as other Congolese journalists such as Joseph Bitala Bitemo or Jean Claude Kakou. Anyway, throughout my stay in Congo, besides Constant Tchendou and a hand few who recalls that, he was a journalist, most people don’t remembers him as a journalist. Or it might be that, he was just an average journalist who rattled no feathers. Perhaps it is a matter of generational shift, hence the new generation has forgotten about him. However his national lack of professional notoriety has been compensate with that which he currently is politically. And this is not because he has done or taken a major political decision, but simply because, he is on the under the protective wing of President Denis Sassou Nguesso. Just as he had registered a wafer thin reputation as a journalist, it is the same case with his parliamentary life. 

His colleagues complain that, he hardly comes to parliament or supports any bill.  To his discharge, he could logically argue that, given his position he can’t be present in parliamentary secessions, hence his alternate seats for him. He also gets elected not because he is popular in his constituency but he gets elected out of fraud.  Firmin Ayessa might be popular in his constituency, but the fact that, he is close to President Denis Sassou Nguesso who is very unpopular within the region, it dampens any sympathies that people would have had for him.  His most difficult periods privately and professionally were when Denis Sassou Nguesso was out of power. But immediately Denis Sassou Nguesso succeeded in driving away from power Pascal Lissouba from power, the man who used to take buses and taxis to work recovered politically and financially. Mr Ayessa is an easy going and ever smiling man, who love French politics. And the French politician who marvels him most is Nicholas Sarkozy. I don’t know whether it is because Nicholas Sarkozy and his UMP party were to his boss or whether it was hyperactivity of the former French president that attracted him. Firmin Ayessa is also a very humble and simple man who seems not to have forgotten where he came from. He is also one of the rare men who are advanced in age within the Denis Sassou Nguesso galaxy that, I know and who calls me my son. He is not ashamed of his age and assumes it. In the chapter on Congolese elite, more will be explained on why most Congolese elite of a certain age in particular men  prefers to be called “Grand Frere” or a “Yayah” in the both Congolese national languages: Lingala and Kituba.

His proximity to the President Denis Sassou Nguesso has made him today to be appointed campaign manager. Denis Sassou Nguesso seems to love him because, he (Denis Sassou Nguesso) knows that, his ambition to elongate his stay in power is not appreciated even by most within his family inner circle.  Hence prior to plans by the president to change the constitution in order to extend his stay in power, Firmin Ayessa was the one that the president used to meet or contact western diplomats, in particular the US ambassador to Congo, Mrs. Stephanie Sullivan. Mrs. Sullivan is today the bête-noir of the ruling Nguesso family simply because she wants   Congo’s democracy entrenched or consolidate. For a democratic Congo will unlock the country's huge cultural and economic potentials for the benefit of the majority and not what is the rule of a happy few. Unfortunately for Mrs. Sullivan, the White House is full of people who talks a lot and only reacts lately. That is the reason why, Denis Sassou Nguesso should not think that, the repeated humiliations and refusal to meet with the US ambassador will save him from the wrath of Washington DC.  Or he should not be deceived into thinking that, a new president in White House might change Washington’s approach toward them. Denis Sassou Nguesso, decided to adopt the strategy of hiding behind Firmin Ayessa because, he had deceived all western diplomats or had promised them all that, he will respect the constitution.

Since he never knew what to tell them, whenever, they wanted to see him, hence, he used the services of his loyal chief of staff who in addition, knows how to speak or present their case convincingly. However, on the problem of the constitutional change, I don’t think Firmin Ayessa was able to convince anyone.  The only problem that Firmin Ayessa is having now with the president, I was told is that, he has not only been able to convince General Jean Marie Michel Mokoko not to contest the March 20^th snap  presidential elections, more he was not able to foresee or predict the popular General’s participation. General Mokoko and Firmin Ayessa are both from the town of Makoua and the second being the principal collaborator of the president, will now be subjected to moral torture from his boss.  The post of Chief of staff that Firmin Ayessa occupies is a vital post of responsibility that, some members of the president’s family thought that, they are the only ones who deserved to have it or be appointed to. Hence, they were surprised when the president sacked his uncle Aime Emmanuel Yoka from the post and replaced him with Firmin Ayessa.

It explains the reason why, the rumor mills in Brazzaville has it that, Mr Ayessa is where he is because his daughter, Mrs. Belinda Ayessa. Mrs. Ayessa is a former journalist like her father and she is currently the Directress of the controversial Pierre Savorgnon de Brazza Museum. The Brazzaville rumor mill is precise with it information, it claims that, Mrs. Belinda Ayessa is one of the many mistresses of the President Denis Sassou Nguesso. When she gave birth it was also claimed that, it was the lovechild of the president of Congo. All these are just rumors because there are no proves and in addition, Congolese politics is very salacious and full of slander and blackmail. It is a classic menu inherited from it Communist past. But Mr Ayessa who is a member of parliament as already mentioned, is where, he is today because he is hard working and also upon his appointment as the Directorate of cabinet of the president of the Republic he has installed order. But while he is a disciplined man, he has no future politically in Congo after Denis Sassou Nguesso.

Mrs Claudine Munari Mabondzou: Profile of a Presidential candidate

Until her recent dismissal from the government, she was minister of Commerce.  Mrs Claudine Munari Mabondzou, who is Member of Parliament, is also the leader of a political party called Movement pour L’Unite, la Solidarite et le Travail abbreviated in French as MUST or in English: Movement for Unity, Solidarity and Labour. Mrs Munari who was formerly married to a Cameroonian lawyer by name Emmanuel Pensy is a subject of all kinds of fantasies and suspicions, especially from her women folk. She is sometimes referred to as a spy or a professional political whore or both. Hence the nickname Mata Hari and Mrs Genevieve Ngouassi, a journalist and former Directress General of the state owned Tele Congo, calls: her a “genocidaire”, because of her close link with former President Pascal Lissouba. Logically, it was normal for her to be close to the former president because, she was her Directress of Cabinet or chief of staff. But according to some people close to the only post independent democratically elected president of Congo, Claudine Munari was brought closer to the President by Martin Mberi, Christophe Moukoueke and Tamba- Tamba, all ethnic Bembes, who wanted to control Pascal Lissouba, who was also from the south but from a minority tribe known as the nzembis. While most political elite in Congo are of the opinion that, Claudine Munari was not only the mistress of president Pascal Lissouba, they also claim, she was the architect of his political fall. This, it must be said  are normal Congolese rumours that have never been substantiated, at least at my level by people that, I have met. Lambert Ngalibali, former minister of public works under President Pascal Lissouba and former Lord Mayor of the Brazzaville city council, who knows Mrs Munari very well, told me in 2008, when he was the guest of  my programme called La Grande Interview in Paris, France that, Claudine Munari was indeed very close to former President Pascal Lissouba. But he never told me nor confirmed to me whether she was the girl friend or mistress of the only democratically elected President of post independent Congo. But the rumour mill in Brazzaville has another salacious story about her.  

It is claimed that, she owns her current or former post of minister of Commerce because she had affairs with both President Denis Sassou Nguesso and Jean Dominique Okemba. Mr Okemba is the nephew of the President and also holds the dual functions of special adviser to his uncle and secretary general of the National Security Council. The Brazzaville rumour mill also has it that, it is because she betrayed former president Pascal Lissouba and the UPADS, the former ruling party, that she was rewarded with a ministerial post by current president Denis Sassou Nguesso. In Congo, the land of professional liars, it is almost impossible to distinguish truths from lies or outright manipulations or even blackmail. However, none of those rumours have been proven, for  as already mentioned, the Republic of Congo is a republic of professional liars, blackmail, character assassinations and defamation. The attitudes of dragging down people’s image in the mud or being smeared by opponents or detractors have been given or elevated into an art in the former Marxist country. Furthermore, politics in Congo and power struggle are always very salacious. It is also a country where most women believe that, she must exchange sex for favour or position. Hence there are wild stories around Mrs Munari, because many can’t come to term that, she is where she is today because of hard work and not via any tribal connections or sexual favours.

Claudine Munari is really very beautiful and intelligent, that is also perhaps the other reason why most wives of influential members of the government are jealous of her and may also be amongst those spreading false rumours about her. The truth is that, she got her position within the government because of the influence that she commands within her region and also because of the desire of President Denis Sassou Nguesso for national reconciliation after the 1997 brief but brutal civil war that ended the reign of Pascal Lissouba. I have met her a number of times, but the only time that we spoke at length was on the 6^th of August 2014 in the Hallway of Four Season Hotel in Washington DC. I noticed on that day, that, while she was minister working in the government of President Denis Sassou Nguesso; she never supported how the country was being governed. She asked me this question: “where do you gather the courage to work independently, the way you are working?” And she added: “I hope that, they will allow you to continue with the way that you are doing your job. She concluded: But know that, there are many Congolese supporting what you are doing professionally”. On that, day, I was in the Hallway of the Washington DC Hotel with Mampassi Ngoma Rech Chadon aka Ted Koppel and Olga Tchitembo. Both journalists working for the privately owned Congolese Television called MNTV. Claudine Munari is a woman to be counted upon in Congolese politics and her political capital can live beyond the current regime. While Claudine Munari is courageous, intelligent and independent minded and has created a reputation for herself, it is not the case with Mrs Adelaide Mouagny, another woman in government.

Maurice Nguesso: Pascal Lissouba was a disappointment.

Like in almost any other family around the world, the ruling Nguessos are also divided into camps or material and political ideologies. Strange as it will appear to most, there are many within the ruling family who are in support of freedom of speech, real democracy and also against corruption. And there are also some extremists within the Nguesso ruling family who think that, they have been chosen by God to rule Congo for eternity. There are also some who  think that, they are more legitimate than other members within the ruling family and also those who are the ancestors(real) or the ancients and those whose genealogy or belongingness have just been discovered and thus considered doubtful. And most often than not, the authenticity of the newly minted Nguessos are doubted by the ancients, but the ancients can’t express their views, because their father and the only surviving uncle believe that, a real bantu-man seldom rejects or refuses a child. It may partly explain the reason why, the children purportedly fathered either by President Denis Sassou Nguesso or his elder brother, Maurice Nguesso keeps growing. President Denis Sassou Nguesso has 29 children as of the 2012 count and the number may have increased by now to 31.

While Maurice Nguesso had as at 2012, 19 children and it is certain that, it has now reached 21.  The authentic or undoubted children of Maurice or Denis may have their weaknesses but they are most often more humble and polite than the new comers who have suddenly discovered the power and success of having a father or an uncle who is president of the Republic for life. The newly minted Nguessos most often than not have the attitude of newly converted Christians or nouveau riche. These last ones are most often the ones who are overconfident and have help to destroy the already filthy image of their father or uncle.  The Nguessos have their share of problems, but one thing that distinguishes them is that, no matter the nature of their internal disagreements which hovers mostly over salacious matters and money or properties, they most often than not, turn to be united in front of an imaginary or real external threat. He is loved by the Congolese. Besides him, the only other member of the ruling family adored by ordinary Congolese is or was the late Edith Lucie Bongo Ondimba. The other member of the ruling family who is simple and accepted by Congolese is Mrs. Lydie Hortense Kourissa.  

Maurice Nguesso is the owner of several companies ranging from security, media, aeronautics, micro-finance and oil.  One of his companies operating in the security sub sector is called SOMAG, is the largest private employer in Congo after the state with 2000 staff on its payroll. He also owns a micro-finance company called CREMAF or Credit Mutuelle d’Afrique.  CREMAF have 63 agencies around the country and it is perhaps the second micro-finance body in Congo in term of national coverage. He also owns an oil company called Petroleum and has made a second solo come back into the aviation sector with the launching of Air Congo Express.  The said company would have directed by a Congolese Helicopter trained pilot by name James Raymond Likibi. However, there was a problem with Air Congo Express, for it was off to a false start.

For Air Congo Express’s lone aircraft was an Antonov that was  banned from flying within the  Congolese airspace by the aviation governing body of Congo known in French as Agence National de L’aviation Civile du Congo abbreviated as ANAC. ANAC had decided to ground all Antonov aircrafts in Congo because of the high number of fatal air crashes. It was also a recommendation from Brussels and the International Civil Aviation Authority. Besides the Antonov aircraft owned by Air Congo Express, Mr James Raymond Likibi who was to be the manager, wanted Maurice Nguesso to purchase two passenger aircrafts. Namely: a Gulf Steam 3 and a Boeing 737/500. The problem however with those proposed new aircrafts were that, they were not adapted to local realities and the ambitions of Maurice Nguesso. The Republic of Congo is a country where only those who are connected to the ruling family can do business easily. For a country of 3 million, the Republic of Congo has 14 privately owned airlines and Air Congo Express would have made the tally to reach 15. Most or almost all the supposedly private airlines are owned by barons of the regime or influential French and Lebanese businessmen who are close to the ruling family.

Sadly, none of the existing airline companies besides ECAIR or Equatorial Congo Airlines and to certain level Nouvelle Air Congo, do respect international civil aviation rules. Even Equajet, which has aircrafts that, the President of the Republic uses, has not pass e a single aviation test in term of security. The other catastrophe that passes for an airline company is called TAC or Trans Air Congo. And it is rumored in Brazzaville that, former Prime Minister Isidore Mvouba and Antoinette Sassou Nguesso, the wife of the President are shareholders of Trans Air Congo or TAC. Besides being suspected of having shares or outright owning TAC, Antoinette Sassou Nguesso is also suspected that she own aviation company. It was in this sector that Maurice Nguesso attempted a second come back but failed. Even though he failed, Maurice Nguesso still has majority share in one local airline company called Canadian Airways. Maurice Nguesso has 19 children and loves his younger brother, Denis Sassou Nguesso very much. He told me once that: I have created my radio and television stations to defend my brother and to also give your blessing to Congolese to express themselves openly.

He added:  I am doing this simply because, when my younger brother Denis Sassou Nguesso lost power in 1992 and whenever he wanted to express himself, it was only through media outfits in the Democratic Republic of Cong, for there was no media in Congo that accepted my brother to express himself.  President Pascal Lissouba who presented himself as a democrat was a disappointment. Maurice Nguesso concluded: it was the current minister of Culture, who is now minister of Foreign affairs who used to take the recorded speeches of my brother to Kinshasa in order for it to be broadcast on Raga TV or Antenne A television stations. However Maurice Nguesso noted that, his younger brother who used to record his speeches and gave its Jean Claude Ngakoso to cross the Congo River to Kinshasa in order for it to be broadcast, seems to have forgotten his past ordeal. For Denis Sassou Nguesso was doing exactly all what he had denounced in the government of Pascal Lissouba, where there was no freedom of speech.

Maurice Nguesso concluded:  only through free speech and real democracy can serve the regime of his brother from demise. Maurice Nguesso might not be a good manager, but to his credit, he is a great strategist. He is different from most northern governing Congolese elite. He at least does open or invest in Congo and employs Congolese who are languishing in the corrupt, brutal misrule organized by his younger brother of a president. Some might argue that most of the companies that is owned by Maurice Nguesso, salaries are not paid regularly, but he has the will that, most within the ruling clan don’t. All their investment has been done abroad with little or nothing at home. The only investment that, the elite of the ruling party in Congo do is to have several women and buy large vehicles. He is not tribal and he is ready and encourages his brother to be more democratic and also accept contradictions. He jokingly refers to his brother as a traditional chief. In other words his younger brother’s behavior is like that of a traditional ruler who seldom accepts contradictions.