Marien Ngouabi Day in the Republic of the Congo Date in the current year: March 18, 2024

Marien Ngouabi rose to power, when his arrest provoked discontent among the military on July 29, 1968. Ngouabi was freed by the soldiers on July 31 and five days later he created the National Revolutionary Council (NRC). The Council curtailed the powers of Massamba-Débat, the political leader of the Republic of the Congo, and he resigned on September 4. When the National Revolutionary Council assumed supreme authority in the country, Ngouabi officially became the president.

Ngouabi's policies wasn't supported by the publicity. There was an attempt to carry out a coup in 1972, but it failed. President Ngouabi was assassinated on March 18, 1977 by an alleged suicide commando. The persons, who were taking part in the assassination, were tried and some of them, including ex-president Massamba-Débat, executed.