Sassou-Nguesso, Denis  ( born 1943 , Edou, Rep. of the
CongoCongolese politician who first became president in 1979 and
seized power through a coup in 1997 after losing democratic
elections.After graduating from college, Sassou-Nguesso briefly
taught school before joining the army. It was during this time
that he became involved in a youth movement that played a
critical role in Republic of the Congo’s independence from
France (1960) and in subsequent Marxist-Leninist politics. In
1962 and former military leader who twice served as president of
the Republic of the Congo (1979–92 and 1997– ).  Sassou-Nguesso
attended Loubomo Secondary School from 1956 until 1961. He then
joined the army, which sent him to Algeria and France for
military training. In 1963 Sassou-Nguesso was appointed
commander of military forces in Brazzaville and rose by the
early 1970s had risen to the rank of colonel by the early 1970s.
During this time Sassou-Nguesso took an active role in politics.
He joined the Congolese Labour Party (Par