1943. Birth of Denis Sassou Nguesso in Edou. 

1960. Denis Sassou Nguesso joins the Congolese Army in order to pursue his education. 

1961-1968. He follows a military training in Central Africa, then in Algeria and France where he graduates with the rank of second lieutenant from the military school: "Ecole Interarmes". He integrates the parachutists’ school and at the age of 25, becomes the chief of the Congolese parachutists troops. 

1970. Denis Sassou Nguesso joins the Congolese Worker’s Party "Parti Congolais du Travail" (PCT). 

1975. By the age of 32 years, he becomes Minister of Defense.

1977. From March 18 at April 2, Denis Sassou Nguesso is the interim-President after the assassination of President Marien Ngouabi but he refuses to be the chief of the Military Committee which took full control of the political power. 

1979. Denis Sassou Nguesso is elected President of the PCT following its Congress of February 5 and becomes, de facto, the new Head of State. 

1982-1986. He puts in place a five-year economic and social plan in order to rebuild Congo. This plan coincides with the fall in price of a barrel of oil from $33 per barrel to as little as $10 per barrel. It reached even $7 price per barrel. The same year a steep devaluation of the dollar, main currency of oil commodity trade, worsens an already grim situation. The President enters into urgent negotiations with both the IMF and the World Bank to set up structural adjustments program.

1986. Denis Sassou Nguesso is elected President in charge of the African United Organization also known by its French acronym OUA and president of the CEEAC (Economic Committee of the Central African States).

On February 25th, 1991 Sassou Nguesso decides to launch the National Conference that will fix the date of the presidential election and answer the questions and preoccupations of the Congolese population confronted with economic crisis and political instability caused by a multitude number of political parties. 

June 2, 1992, He becomes candidate to his own succession. Denis Sassou Nguesso is in third position during the presidential election with 17%, behind Pascal Lissouba 35% and Bernard Kolélas 20%. Finding himself placed in a position to arbitrate, he chooses to support Pascal Lissouba because of his political background. He has been several times ministers in various cabinets.

August 11, 1992. He signs an agreement with Pascal Lissouba to elaborate a common government plan.

August 31, 1992. Denis Sassou Nguesso leaves the Presidency to resume life as an ordinary citizen. He remains concerned for his country because Pascal Lissouba could not keep his own pledge for the country. 

1992-1994. Chased by Pascal Lissouba’s militia, Denis Sassou Nguesso settles in his village of Oyo located in the north of Congo. 

November 1993-January 1994. First civil war of Congo. Pascal Lissouba with his militia along with Bernard Kolélas attack the district of Bacongo in Brazzaville. The conflict rages and more than 3000 people are assumed dead. 

1994-1996. Denis Sassou Nguesso takes refuge in Paris with his family. 

January 1997. Wanting to participate to the presidential elections scheduled for June of that year, Denis Sassou Nguesso returns to Congo. 

June 5, 1997. The troops of Pascal Lissouba surrounds his residence of MPila in Brazzaville. This aggression is the ignition of the second civil war of Congo which will, unfortunately, produce more than ten thousand dead. 

October 11-14, 1997. The patriotic forces of Denis Sassou Nguesso take the control of Brazzaville.

October 15, 1997. Denis Sassou Nguesso makes a speech of national reconciliation in order to stop the civil war and to rebuild Congo.

October 25, 1997. Denis Sassou Nguesso is appointed head of State.

November 2nd, 1997. Denis Sassou Nguesso establishes a government of large union know as "gouvernement de Salut Public."

January 5-14, 1998. Brazzaville hosts a Forum of unity and national reconciliation. That forum brings 1,500 representatives of various political group and delegates of the civil society. They decide on a transition period of 3 years before the next elections.

March 10th, 2002. Sassou Nguesso is democratically elected Head of State with 89.41% for a seven years mandate.