The Problem of Change and Reorganisation of the One-Party Dictatorship in Congo

Abstract

Democratisation, a Buzzword Since the beginning of the 90s "democratisation" has been the buzzword for donors as well as agencies such as the IMF and the World Bank. However, we have also seen the "democratisation process" come to a stop in several cases toppled by "old leaders" coming back to power, either through election or by armed force. This has been the case in The Congo (Brazzaville) in 1997.2 Since October 15,1997, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, the President of the former socialist one-party state has been back in power. He won the civil war with help from France and Angola,3 and perhaps also from other African leaders. It seems as if the democratisation process in the Congo has come to an end. The process of political and economic reorganisation of the society that started with the new constitution of 1991 has been interrupted. I assume, however, that the process of democratisation is not so easy to stop and that Sassou-Nguesso cannot return to the way he ruled Congo during the 1980s. Concurrently, the Central Africa region is undergoing a tremendous change and the political landscape is being transformed. South Africa is becoming more and more influential, the traditional influence from the West is changing. The position of the USA and France is not clear, and it is difficult to judge whether their influence is as strong as it used to be. Laurent Desiree Kabila in DRCongo has for instance sought support from states like China and Libya. But the influence from the different transnational oil-companies is indisputable. In this paper, I intend to discuss the reorganisation of Congolese society that started in 1991 with the transitional government. Congo managed, in 1991, to engage in a National Conference without bloodshed, and then, in 1992, a transitional government was launched to prepare for democratic elections. I shall