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Fall of the Messiah. As the walkout began, Brazzaville was shut tight, and 1,500 demonstrators gathered for a morning rally at the railroad station. Suddenly mounted Congolese gendarmes charged them with sabers flashing. The ragged mob burst through police lines and surged toward the city prison, hurling stones and bricks. At the prison entrance, police opened fire, killing at least three. Undeterred, the mob battered down the steel gate, freed 480 elated prisoners. Moving on, the rioters set about burning homes and cars of government officials.
From his palace, Youlou pleaded with the French commander of the Congolese troops to take more vigorous action. "Shoot, shoot," Youlou cried, covering his ears. But his appeal was in vain. Although the French had 3,000 of their own men in the country under a defense treaty, and airlifted in another 1,000, orders from Paris were only to protect the presidential palace and French property. On the radio, Youlou announced a government reshuffle, but it was too late. Next morning the mob, now swollen to 10,000, again poured out of the city's two shantytowns. One man was heard to cry: "I have not worked in six months. I have not eaten in three days." Finally, resplendent in a white cassock, Youlou appeared on the palace steps, announced that he had resigned to prevent a bloodbath. With a thunderclap of cheers, the crowd broke up peacefully, and within hours Brazzaville was back to normal.
Taking over, the army chose as Provisional Premier Alphonse Massamba-Debat, 42, a moderate leftist and former Youlou Cabinet minister who fell from favor. In contrast to his Catholic predecessor, Massamba-Debat is a Protestant. Appointed with him was a seven-man Cabinet of French-trained technicians that failed to include any union leaders. Massamba-Debat hinted at prompt elections. As for Fulbert Youlou, he had saved his head at least so far, was spirited away to an army camp for safekeeping. Announced Massamba-Debat: "There will be no reprisals against Monsieur Youlou. He is a Congolese nobleman."
*Both call themselves Republic of the Congo, list themselves unofficially by the names of their capitals: Congo (Brazzaville) and Congo (Leopoldville).