Fulbert Youlou - Entrance Into National Government

Entrance Into National Government

Support for Tchicaya's PPC collapsed almost entirely, leaving Opanagult and Youlou as the main political contenders in the 31 March 1957 Moyen-Congo Territorial Assembly elections. Youlou was elected as a deputy to the Territorial Assembly, and on 1 May 1957 appointed Minister of Agriculture in the newly established Moyen-Congo Government Council, Jacques Opangault was appointed Vice-President displacing the Moyen-Congo French National Assembly deputy Jean-Felix Tchicaya as the leading politician in the country - French colonial governors remained as Presidents until 14 July 1958 when these positions were taken by the elected African Vice-Presidents. In 1958, Opangault and Youlou both supported political autonomy, which French President Charles de Gaulle considered giving to the Franco-African Community. The UDDIA achieved majority support in Congo's legislative assembly later that year, which resulted in the formation on 8 December 1958 of a provisional government headed by Youlou in the newly established position of Prime Minister.

Antagonism between the Mbochi (who supported Opangault) and Balali (who supported Youlou) ethnic groups resulted in a series of riots in Brazzaville in February 1959, which had to be subdued by the French army. Youlou used the series of events to attack the opposition. Through gerrymandering, Youlou's UDDIA party obtained 84% of the legislative seats after only receiving 58% of the vote in the April 1959 legislative elections. Three months later, he formed a new government, which was shortly joined thereafter by Opangault and the MSA. By the time independence was declared in the Republic of the Congo in August 1960, Opangault had agreed to serve under Youlou in a highly symbolic position.

The neocolonial Youlou regime was described as being mildly corrupt and authoritarian, aimless in domestic policy, and deferential to France. The high-profile development projects it undertook did little to help ordinary Congolese citizens, and its pro-Katanga foreign policy irritated many of Congo's left-wing educated urban youth and bureaucracy. The situation came to a head when Youlou hinted that he intended to make Congo a one-party state. Youlou's regime was brought to its demise following three days of street riots in August 1963, which became known as "les trois glorieuses". Youlou was succeeded by a string of leaders who were committed to a form of socialist development for Congo. Ironically given their condemnation of Youlou's attempt to abolish all other parties, they also set up a one-party state that remained in place until 1991.