Congo’s President Nguesso re-elected for a fifth term

The incumbent President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, has been re-elected for a fifth consecutive term, extending his nearly 42 years in power. Provisional results announced on Tuesday by Interior Minister Raymond Zephirin Mboulou showed Sassou Nguesso received 94.82 percent of Sunday’s vote.

State television reported voter turnout at 84.65 percent, although observers noted many polling stations in the capital, Brazzaville, had few or no voters. Sassou Nguesso, 82, faced six lesser-known candidates in an election boycotted by two major opposition parties.

The vote followed restrictions on internet access and movement in Brazzaville, while several opposition figures remained imprisoned. Analysts said the president’s campaign included nationwide visits, while opponents were largely restricted to symbolic gestures.

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Sassou Nguesso first became president in 1979, served until 1992, and returned to power in 1997 after a civil conflict. A 2015 constitutional change removed presidential age and term limits, allowing him to seek additional terms. The country continues to face high public debt, standing at 94.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).