Congo Election Campaign Begins as President Sassou Nguesso Seeks Another Term

The presidential election campaign in Congo-Brazzaville begins on Saturday, with 82-year-old incumbent Denis Sassou Nguesso expected to secure another term. A long-serving leader, Sassou Nguesso has dominated politics since 1979, and the fragmented opposition faces little chance of winning. Despite criticisms over civil liberties and contested elections, he is credited with bringing stability to the country.

The presidential election campaign in Congo-Brazzaville officially begins on Saturday, with 82-year-old President Denis Sassou Nguesso widely expected to secure another term, potentially extending his decades-long rule. Sassou Nguesso, a career military officer, first led the country under a one-party system from 1979 to 1992 before losing the nation’s first multi-party elections to former Prime Minister Pascal Lissouba. He returned to power in 1997 after overthrowing Lissouba during a civil war, cementing his position as a dominant political figure in Congo-Brazzaville.
Earlier this month, Sassou Nguesso formally announced he would be seeking a new five-year term, which, according to the constitution, would be his last. The campaign officially kicks off in the Atlantic coastal city of Pointe-Noire, the country’s economic and oil hub, with a rally organized by his Congolese Labour Party (PCT). The campaign period will conclude on March 13, with the first round of voting scheduled for March 15.
Six opposition candidates have officially entered the race, including 34-year-old Destin Gavin from the Republican Movement (MR), who is participating in a presidential election for the first time. However, the opposition remains fragmented and heavily constrained by political and institutional challenges, making it unlikely to mount a significant challenge to the incumbent. Roadside campaign posters and public messaging from the ruling party emphasize a “wave” of support in favor of Sassou Nguesso, portraying him as the nation’s “patriarch” and a stabilizing force.
Sassou Nguesso is among Africa’s longest-serving leaders, alongside Paul Biya of Cameroon, who has been in office since 1982, and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who assumed power through a coup in 1979. Sassou Nguesso has won multiple elections, including in 2002, 2009, 2016, and 2021. His ability to stand for successive terms was facilitated by constitutional amendments that removed the upper age limit of 70 and extended the maximum number of presidential terms, allowing him to consolidate power over decades.
Congo-Brazzaville, a former French colony, is endowed with significant oil reserves, yet nearly half of its six million inhabitants live below the poverty line. Sassou Nguesso’s political opponents have consistently contested his election victories since 2002, citing irregularities and limited political freedoms. Two notable figures, General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and Andre Okombi Salissa, who ran against him in the 2016 election, remain detained following convictions for “attacking internal security” in 2018 and 2019. These candidates had strongly disputed official results, which declared Sassou Nguesso the victor with 60 percent of the vote.
Non-governmental organizations and civil society groups regularly voice concerns over violations of civil liberties, suppression of dissent, and intimidation of political opponents. Despite these controversies, Sassou Nguesso is credited with restoring a degree of stability to a country deeply scarred by civil war in the 1990s. His long tenure has provided continuity in governance, though it has also been accompanied by persistent criticism over democratic freedoms and political inclusivity. The upcoming election is set against this backdrop of entrenched power, a fragmented opposition, and the ongoing struggle to balance stability with democratic principles in a nation rich in natural resources but facing significant social and economic challenges.