Republic of Congo’s Sassou Nguesso wins fifth term as he extends 42-year rule

Interior Minister Raymond Zephirin Mboulou declared the outcome on state television following Sunday’s presidential election. Authorities reported a turnout of 84.65%, with more than 2.6 million ballots cast out of nearly 3.2 million registered voters.

The 82-year-old incumbent, who leads the Congolese Party of Labour, faced six lesser-known challengers. Analysts and diplomats had widely predicted an easy win for Sassou Nguesso, who campaigned actively across the country while his opponents mounted limited efforts.

Two major opposition parties boycotted the poll, citing unfair practices. Prominent critics, including General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and Andre Okombi Salissa, have been imprisoned for nearly 10 years on charges widely viewed as politically motivated.

Restrictions and skepticism in the capital

In the lead-up to voting, authorities imposed familiar restrictions: nationwide internet shutdowns and traffic controls in Brazzaville. Many polling stations in the capital saw sparse lines or empty booths, with residents expressing resignation over the expected outcome.

“Everyone knows that, faced with his six inexperienced opponents, President Denis Sassou Nguesso will be re-elected with a high score as usual,” said Clarisse Massamba, a teacher who voted in Brazzaville. “Since the election is not a big issue, we shouldn’t cut off communication.”

Human rights activist Joe Washington Ebina told Reuters that activists faced arrests, opposition parties were suspended, and public gatherings were heavily monitored in the pre-election period.

Sassou Nguesso first took power in 1979 and governed until 1992. He returned as a militia leader after a 1997 civil war. A 2015 constitutional referendum eliminated presidential age and term limits, paving the way for his continued candidacies.

Despite the country’s oil and mineral wealth, the Republic of Congo grapples with high international debt — standing at 94.5% of GDP, per the World Bank — underscoring persistent economic struggles under long-term leadership.

Provisional results await final validation by the Constitutional Court. Sassou Nguesso’s next term will face scrutiny as he confronts a potential term limit after this mandate, amid ongoing questions about democratic space in the nation.

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