French colony of Middle Congo (Moyen Congo) chose the name "Republic of Congo" upon achieving its independence on 1960 and was showing some sings of political instability. President Marien Ngouabi, assumed the presidency of the Congo on December 31, 1968, after the coup earlier that month. A year later proclaimed Congo Africa's first "people's republic" and thus the overtly communist People's Republic of the Congo was born. Joachim Yhombi-Opango came to office in 1977 and was forced from office by Denis Sassou Nguesso in 1979. He ruled mostly via fear and terror, plus the odd bit of patronage and nepotism.