• Denis-Christel Sassou Nguesso is son of President Sassou Ngueso
• New Prime Minister Makosso named him new Minister of International Cooperation and Public-Private Partnership
• He has previously held top positions in state oil companies

Republic of Congo president Denis Sassou Nguesso has handed his son a top ministerial position.

The president through the new Prime Minsiter named Denis-Christel Sassou Nguesso as Minister of International Cooperation and Promotion of Public-Private partnership.

"It is with great emotion and gratitude that I learn of my appointment to the post of Minister of International Cooperation and the Promotion of Public-Private Partnership.

"All my thanks to the Head of State and the Prime Minister for the confidence placed in me," the new minister posted on Twitter.


Sassou who is one of Africa's longest serving leaders has been in charge of the central African country for over three decades.

He recently won a landslide vote securing his sixth term in office and subsequently named a new Prime Minister in the person of Anatole Collinet Makosso.

Makosso named a new cabinet that included Denis-Christel in a move that will likely raise eyebrows on the subject of presidents looking to hand over reins of power to their sons.

Denis-Christel serves as a lawmaker representing constituents from his native Oyo region, located in the country's north.

He is a one-time administrator-general of the state oil marketing company, Cotrade, and also served as deputy director-general of the National Petroleum Company of the Congo, SNPC.

He was elected to the National Assembly of Congo-Brazzaville in 2012.

Other African countries with undercurrents that sitting presidents could handover to their sons include.

- Uganda - President Museveni and son Muhoozi

- Cameroon - President Paul Biya and son Frank

- Equatorial Guinea - Obiang Nguema and son Teodorin (who is current vice president)

- In Chad recently, late Idris Deby was 'suceeded' by son Mahamat - who leads the Transitional Military Junta