The Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville (locally, "Congo-Brazza") or the Congo, is a presidential republic. It is a former French colony of western-central Africa. It borders Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and the Gulf of Guinea Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and an election was held in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 ended in the restoration of former Marxist President Denis Sassou Nguesso to power.