Yhombi-Opango, Jacques Joachim, 1939–2020, Congolese politician. An army colonel, he became president of the People's Republic of the Congo in 1977 after the assassination of President Ngouabi. Forced to resign after two years in office, he was succeeded by Denis Sassou-Nguesso, who placed him under house arrest for several years. Later implicated in a coup plot, Yhombi-Opango served time in prison (1987–90). He founded (1990) the Rally for Democracy and Development party and ran unsuccessfully for president in 1992, then served as prime minister (1993–96) under President Lissouba. Yhombi-Opango lived in exile (1997–2007) in France during the civil war in the Congo.
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