Fulbert Youlou
Fulbert Youlou | |
|---|---|
Fulbert Youlou in 1963 | |
| 1st President of the Republic of the Congo | |
| In office 15 August 1960 – 15 August 1963 | |
| Vice President | Stéphane Tchichelle Jacques Opangault |
| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | Alphonse Massemba-Débat |
| 2nd Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo | |
| In office 8 December 1958 – 21 November 1959 | |
| Preceded by | Jacques Opangault |
| Succeeded by | Post abolished, 1959–1963; Alphonse Massemba-Débat |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 July 1917 Madibou, Moyen-Congo |
| Died | 6 May 1972 (aged 54) Madrid, Spanish State |
| Party | Democratic Union for the Defence of African Interests |
Fulbert Youlou (19 July 1917 – 6 May 1972) was a Congolese nationalist leader and former Catholic priest who became the first President of the Republic of the Congo upon its independence in 1960.
In August 1960, Youlou led his country into independence. In December 1960, he organised an intercontinental conference in Brazzaville, wherein he praised the advantages of economic liberalism and condemned communism. Youlou disappointed many when he imposed a single-party system and imprisoned union leaders in August 1963; this led to the revolution of the Trois Glorieuses (English: "Three Glorious Days"). Charles de Gaulle despised Youlou and France refused to assist him. Youlou resigned thereafter in the face of overwhelming opposition to his governance.