Milongo, Andre

▪ 2008

      Congolese politician

born Oct. 20, 1935, Mankondi, near Brazzaville, French Equatorial Africa [now in Republic of the Congo]

died July 22–23, 2007, Paris, France

was a key figure in his country's move to independence (1960), leader of the opposition Union for Democracy and Republic party, and briefly (June 1991–September 1992) prime minister. Milongo pursued advanced studies in France, returning to Brazzaville in 1964 with degrees from the University of Nancy and the National School of Administration. He served (1964–69) as Congo's national treasurer and later joined the boards of governors of the African Development Bank and the World Bank. As transitional prime minister under Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Milongo laid the groundwork for multiparty elections in 1992. He lost in his own bid for the presidency, however, and was named to head the National Assembly, where he remained until 1997. Shortly before the 2002 presidential election, Milongo withdrew his candidacy in protest.

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