32 Facts About Fulbert Youlou

Fulbert Youlou 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.

Fulbert Youlou resigned thereeafter in the face of overwhelming opposition to his governance.

Fulbert Youlou completed his final cycle of studies in Brazzaville.

Fulbert Youlou was ordained as a priest on 9 June 1946 or in 1949.

Fulbert Youlou was assigned to the parish of Saint-Francois de Brazzaville where he directed several youth organisations, sporting activities, and Catholic groups.

Fulbert Youlou realised that if he were elected, he would no longer appear so clearly supported by the administration or the missions.

Fulbert Youlou was banned from wearing the cassock and from celebrating the Mass.

Fulbert Youlou himself became a living symbol of colonial resistance.

Fulbert Youlou took to bathing there in his cassock, praying and calling upon the powerful ancestors.

On 17 May 1956, Fulbert Youlou founded the Union democratique de defense des interets africains, as a competitor to the Congolese Progressive Party of Tchicaya and of the section of the SFIO transformed in January 1957 into the African Socialist Movement directed by Opangault.

In November 1956, Fulbert Youlou filed papers declaring his candidacy for the election of the mayor of Brazzaville.

In January 1958, relations between the two parties worsened again after Fulbert Youlou decided to organise UDDIA investigatory trips to the GPES fief of Dolisie.

Clashes took place there between the socialists and Fulbert Youlou's supporters, leading to at least two thousands deaths and several injuries.

Unconcerned, Fulbert Youlou proclaimed the Republic on his own, passed constitutional laws, and converted the Territorial Assembly into a legislature.

Since Opangault kept calling for war, the political climate in Pointe-Noire became hostile and so Fulbert Youlou transferred the capital to Brazzaville.

Fulbert Youlou's government sought to make itself representative of Congolese society: it included at least one deputy from each region, representatives of traditional elites and two spokesmen for youth and unions.

Now that he was prime minister, Fulbert Youlou refused to hold them.

Fulbert Youlou took advantage of these events by arresting Opangault, accusing him of inciting the violence.

Fulbert Youlou was released five months later without ever facing trial, but promising revenge.

On 20 March 1961, Fulbert Youlou was the UDDIA and MSA candidate in the presidential elections.

Fulbert Youlou's administration was not very concerned about its budget deficit.

Enthusiastic about this project, Fulbert Youlou nevertheless faced two major problems: the incredible cost, estimated at 100 billion CFA francs and the Congo's insufficient supply of bauxite, a key material for the project.

In exchange for economic assistance with the planned Sounda dam, Fulbert Youlou provided Tshombe with logistical support necessary for the separatist regime.

Fulbert Youlou did not experience any opposition; on the contrary, the decision appeared to be enthusiastically received by the MSA leader Jacques Opangault.

The day before this protest, in the night, Fulbert Youlou had the principal union leaders arrested.

Fulbert Youlou called de Gaulle and requested French assistance, asking that French troops near Brazzaville free the Presidential Palace, in vain.

Fulbert Youlou was accused of genocide, misappropriation of public funds, and of using a Heron war-plane which had been received from the French government for personal purposes.

Fulbert Youlou was charged with having supported the Katangan secession orchestrated by Moise Tshombe.

In November 1965, Fulbert Youlou expressed a desire for the French government to allow him to settle in Nice to receive medical care.

Finally, Fulbert Youlou was sent to Spain, where Franco's regime treated him well.

The socialist and revolutionary regime which succeeded Fulbert Youlou held him responsible for all the country's problems.

Fulbert Youlou's memory was rehabilitated at the National Conference of 1991 which restored multi-party democracy in the Republic of Congo.