Matondo in fact uses the example of Aloïse Moudileno-Massengo to illustrate his point that in Congo, “unarmed political leaders are merely figureheads.” The civil war of 1997 in Congo-Brazzaville ended with the military victory of Denis Sassou-Nguesso and Aloïse Moudileno-Massengo returning to exile in France where he has lived since 1998.