1963 visit by Sékou Touré to the Republic of the Congo

First Guinean President visit to Congo Between June 5 and 6, 1963, the Guinean president Sékou Touré made an official visit to Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo. He was received by the Congolese president Fulbert Youlou. The visit sparked protests against the Congolese government, marking a beginning to the popular movement that would end Youlou's rule two months later.Clark, John Frank. The Failure of Democracy in the Republic of Congo. Boulder, Colo: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2008. p. 69 Touré's visit followed a visit by Youlou to Guinea in 1962. During the visit economic cooperation between the two countries was discussed, and Touré pledged that Guinean bauxite and iron would be made available for Congolese needs for industrialization.Bazenguissa-Ganga, Rémy. Les voies du politique au Congo: essai de sociologie historique. Paris: Karthala, 1997. pp. 71-72 At a speech at the Brazzaville City Hall, Touré denounced the reactionary policies and extravagant lifestyle of the Congolese leadership. He called on the peoples to overthrow the regimes of exploiters and imperialist lackeys.Clark, John Frank. The Failure of Democracy in the Republic of Congo. Boulder, Colo: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2008. p. 128 The speech was met with applause and praise from Congolese trade unionists, who hailed him with slogans such as 'Long live the president of Africa!Coquery-Vidrovitch, Catherine. Africa: Endurance and Change South of the Sahara. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988. pp. 296-297 Youths and trade unionists took to the streets. Slogans raised included 'Long live the independence of Africa!', 'Down with Fulbert Youlou!' and 'Down with those who plunder the Congo'. These protests marked the beginning of more politicized trade union militancy. Discontent with Youlou's rule continued to simmer. Following Touré's visit, Youlou sought to reach a compromise with trade unions and youth movements through power-sharing in a provisional government. However, on August 13 a strike was declared, and Youlou's rule was finished during the wave of protests which came to be known as the Trois Glorieuses. References Category:Diplomatic visits by heads of state Category:1963 in the Republic of the Congo Category:Republic of the Congo–Guinea relations Category:1963 in international relations Category:June 1963 in Africa Category:20th century in Brazzaville Category:Organized events in Brazzaville