PRESIDENT DENNIS SASSOU RE ELECTED

By Our Correspondent

Congo Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected with 94.82% of the vote, extending his nearly 42-year rule over the Central African oil producer.

Diplomats and political analysts had anticipated an easy victory for Sassou, 82, who faced six little-known challengers in a race tightly managed by the ruling Congolese Labour Party.

The main opposition parties did not field candidates, citing a lack of transparency. Two prominent opposition figures, General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and Andre Okombi Salissa, have been in prison for nearly a decade.

Human rights activist Joe Washington Ebina reported that ahead of the vote, several opposition parties were suspended, activists were arrested, and public gatherings were closely monitored.

Voting on Sunday faced disruptions, including late openings at some polling stations and a nationwide internet blackout. State television reported a turnout of 84.65%, though many polling stations in Brazzaville appeared sparsely attended.

Sassous closest challenger, Mabio Mavoungou Zinga, 69, a retired customs inspector and former member of parliament, received 1.48% of the vote. Defeated candidates have five days to file challenges, and the Constitutional Court has 15 days to review them before announcing final results.

Sassou, a former paratrooper, first took power in 1979. He lost Congos first multi-party elections in 1992 but returned to power in 1997 following a civil war. A 2015 constitutional amendment removed presidential term limits and the age cap, allowing him to run for three additional five-year terms. This latest term is expected to be his last, heightening focus on succession within the ruling party.

Economically, Congo heavily dependent on oil has stabilized after a decade-long downturn and successfully completed a three-year IMF program last year. However, more than half of the population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank, with many lacking reliable access to electricity, running water, and basic healthcare.

Congo has also faced ongoing allegations of corruption, with French and U.S. authorities investigating assets held abroad by members of Sassous close family.