At the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations In New York City, the Congolese dictator spoke about women’s rights, electricity, health, quality and peace among the underprivileged.
While listening to him, whoever does not know anything about Congo Brazzaville would think of it as a promising nation with a great and caring leader who cares not only about his own people but also about the underprivileged worldwide.
However, the Congolese population is oppressed by the Nguesso clan; women are abused with impunity and and treated as second-class citizens by his government, army and even the police.
Today more than 52% of the population live below the poverty line, not because the country lacks resources but because the Nguesso clan makes sure they remain poor and easily manipulable.
It is unimaginable to admit that over two and a half million out of out of five million people live in extreme poverty when their country is the fourth producer of oil in the Sub-Saharan African region and has one of the most fertile soils on the African continent if not in the world.
Poor governance for over 40 years has plunged the country into chaos with billions of dollars stolen from the public treasury to purchase expensive cars, properties and take care of dozens of out-of-marriage children and mistresses. hundreds of millions of dollars if not billions are hidden in private bank accounts abroad and their relatives have salaries without working or living in the country.
Women’s Rights
In his address to the United Nations’ General Assembly, Sassou Nguesso emphasized on gender equality, gender parity and the empowerment of women and girls.
“I’d like to underscore the role played by women in my country over the last fifteen years.” he said. ” Today women contribute immensely to promoting their rights and freedom, to eliminating poverty and extending inclusive education through training and studies of all kind.” he pursued.
Facts prove that although the law guarantees equal opportunities between men and women, the latter are still sexually harassed or abused with impunity to get jobs, scholarships and other opportunities. Some of the abusers are members of Sassou Nguesso’s government, army officers, police officers, judges, teachers etc.
Sexual abuse in schools, workplace and households are not investigated; on rare occasions, when certain cases gain public attention, they are prosecuted on a case by case basis. The only people who get jail time for rapping, abusing or performing any act of violence against women seem to be those known as commoners who are not related to anyone with authority.
While Mister Sassou Nguesso was telling the world how important women’s rights are important to him, The Deputy Mayor of Brazzaville Guy Marius Okana who is close to his circle was raping a minor.
Because the affair gained public attention when Miss Loubayi Malanda Leslie Chanelle, the mother of the victim pressed charges against the deputy Mayor, Oko Ngakala, the prosecutor of the Republic pretended to place him under arrest.
“After examining the facts of this procedure, taking into account both the sensitivity and the seriousness of the facts of the case, I decided to initiate proceedings against the latter for acts of pedophile practice provided for and punished by the articles 1, 67 and 121 of Law No. 04-2010 of June 14, 2010 on child protection in the Republic of Congo,” the Prosecutor declared.
However, after only one day, the rapist who is still the Deputy Mayor of Brazzaville, was released and placed under judicial supervision . Unsurprisingly the whole situation might end up being buried. That is how Sassou Nguesso’s Government members get away with rapes, murders, money laundering and any other crime.
“For denouncing the conditions of patients in Dolisie hospitals, influencer DSP Malaka spent days in cell. But for an incestuous rape of a 17-year-old minor, the vice mayor of the city of Brazzaville, Guy Marius Okana was released under judicial supervision. Wolves do not eat each other and incest is authorized within those in power,” Sascer-Infos wrote.
Les Echos du Congo Brazzaville reported that “In Brazzaville, rape of minors has become commonplace. In February, Hervé Manana, 49 years old, single, father of 4 children, was arrested for attempting rape on underage students in “CEG Nganga Edouard,” a junior high school in Brazzaville. Some people we interviewed think that the abuser will be quietly released and go back to doing his job.”
Thousands of women go through these inhumane behaviors and no serious punishment is inflicted upon abusers in a country where its leader pretends to promote women’s rights, gender equality, equity and inclusion. The law he directed congress to vote on for women protection was named after his mother Mouebara, a woman who has not done anything officially known either for the country or for women in general.
It is worth highlighting that polygamy is still legal in Congo Brazzaville. Some Government members, Army generals and other high ranking civil servants are legally married to more than 1 wife; and Mister Sassou Nguesso himself had kids with over 5 other women while still married to his wife Antoinette. half of those women are no longer alive. They all died in mysterious circumstances.
As Pew Research Center reported : “Polygamy is banned throughout much of the world, and the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which has said that “polygamy violates the dignity of women,” called for it to “be definitely abolished wherever it continues to exist.”
Yet, in Sassou Nguesso’s Congo polygamy is still legal and encouraged and ordinary women are still indignified.