Incumbent President Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected with 94.8 percent of the vote in Congo-Brazzaville’s presidential election, according to provisional results announced yesterday, March 17th.
The outcome of Sunday’s poll extends his nearly four-decade hold on power by another five years, with turnout reported at 84.65 percent by Interior Minister, Raymond Zephyrin Mboulou.
The results remain subject to validation by the constitutional court. Although six candidates contested the election, the opposition was largely fragmented and absent, weakening competition.
During his campaign, Sassou Nguesso highlighted his economic record, pointing to infrastructure modernisation and efforts to expand gas and agriculture sectors in a bid to boost self-sufficiency. The oil-dependent economy is projected to grow by 2.9 percent in 2025.
The 82-year-old leader, who first ruled from 1979 to 1992 before returning to power in 1997, stated he does not intend to run again after 2031, in line with constitutional limits, signalling a future leadership transition without naming a successor.