82-Year-Old Congo Leader Expected to Win Another Term in Sunday Election

Denis Sassou Nguesso, who has ruled Congo Republic for over four decades, is widely anticipated to secure another five-year term in Sunday's presidential election. Opposition groups are boycotting the vote, citing lack of credibility, while key opposition figures remain imprisoned or in exile.

Citizens of Congo Republic headed to polling stations Sunday for a presidential election that political observers believe will grant 82-year-old Denis Sassou Nguesso another five-year term, continuing his grip on power that has lasted more than 40 years.

Key opposition leaders remain behind bars, while others have fled the country. Multiple opposition political parties are refusing to participate in the election, claiming the electoral process cannot be trusted.

Voting began at 7 a.m. local time and concluded at 6 p.m. Officials registered over 3.2 million Congolese citizens to cast ballots, though political analysts and civic organizations predict participation will drop below the nearly 68% turnout from 2021, when Sassou captured 88.4% of votes.

The longtime leader first took control of the oil-rich Central African country in 1979 and has maintained power almost without interruption, except for a brief five-year period during the 1990s.

Six relatively unknown candidates are challenging Sassou, but none are considered viable threats, as election oversight committees are filled with individuals supporting the ruling Congolese Labour Party.

“The opposition is fragmented and lacks a strong, emblematic figure,” said Remadji Hoinathy of the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies. “There may be fatigue among voters, but that will not affect Sassou’s chances.”

Human rights organizations report that political freedoms have decreased in recent years, pointing to activist detentions and party suspensions.

Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso has rejected claims of bias favoring Sassou, maintaining that Congo’s regulatory agencies will guarantee a fair and transparent electoral process.

Many Congolese citizens express skepticism about potential political change.

“It’s an election whose outcome is known in advance,” said Frédéric Nkou, an unemployed resident of Brazzaville. “I don’t expect things to improve.”

During his campaign, Sassou emphasized maintaining current policies while promising to speed up infrastructure initiatives and broaden educational and vocational training opportunities.

While the oil-dependent economy has found stability following years of decline, World Bank data shows that 52% of Congo’s 6.1 million residents remain in poverty.

Election officials expect to announce preliminary results within 48 to 72 hours after polls close.