The campaign for next month’s presidential election in Congo-Brazzaville officially begins on Saturday, with 82-year-old President Denis Sassou Nguesso widely expected to extend his decades-long rule. The opening rally is being held in Pointe-Noire, the country’s economic and oil capital, under the banner of the ruling Congolese Labour Party (PCT).
Sassou Nguesso, a career military officer, first led the country under a one-party system from 1979 to 1992 before losing to Pascal Lissouba in Congo’s first multi-party elections. He returned to power in 1997 after overthrowing Lissouba during a civil war and has since consolidated his position through successive elections.
Earlier this month, he confirmed his candidacy for another five-year term, which the constitution stipulates will be his last. Campaigning will run until March 13, with the first round of voting scheduled for March 15.
Opposition Faces Uphill Battle
Six opposition candidates have formally entered the race, including Destin Gavin, a 34-year-old newcomer from the Republican Movement (MR). However, the opposition remains fragmented and heavily constrained, with campaign posters across the country promising a “wave” of support for Sassou Nguesso, whom the ruling party refers to as its “patriarch.”
Two prominent opposition figures from the 2016 elections, General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and Andre Okombi Salissa, remain imprisoned after convictions for “attacking internal security.” Their continued detention underscores the limited political space available to challengers.
Longest-Serving Leaders in Africa
Sassou Nguesso is among Africa’s longest-ruling leaders, alongside Paul Biya of Cameroon and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea. Constitutional changes in 2015 removed the age limit of 70 and extended the maximum number of terms, enabling him to contest and win the 2016 and 2021 elections.
While his victories have been consistently contested by opponents and criticized by NGOs for alleged violations of civil liberties, Sassou Nguesso is credited with bringing a measure of stability to Congo-Brazzaville, a nation scarred by civil war in the 1990s.
Socio-Economic Backdrop
Despite being rich in oil, nearly half of Congo-Brazzaville’s six million citizens live below the poverty line. Civil society groups continue to highlight issues of governance, economic inequality, and restrictions on political freedoms as the election approaches.
