The People's Republic of the Congo was founded in December 1969 as the first Marxist-Leninist state in Africa, three months after the government of Alphonse Massamba-Débat was overthrown in the September 1968 coup d'état.

Denis Sassou Nguesso succeeded Yhombi-Opango, confirmed the PCT's rule in the Congo with a new constitution, formed closer relations with France, and allowed greater foreign investment in the country.

The People's Republic of the Congo transitioned into a multi-party following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, restoring the country's earlier name and flag, and ceased to exist by March 1992.

[2] The administration became strongly centralized in Brazzaville and the main government posts were taken over by Congolese Workers' Party—Parti congolais du travail (PCT)—cadres after abolishing the national assembly of the previous republic.

[1] In the same manner as other African communist states of the Cold War era, the People's Republic of the Congo shared close ties with the Soviet Union.

The Sovereign National Conference ended the PCT government, appointing a transitional Prime Minister, André Milongo, who was invested with executive powers.