Congolese President Sassou Nguesso wins fifth term: provisional results | Election news

Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso’s election success extends his nearly 42-year rule.

Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected for a fifth consecutive term, according to provisional results, extending his nearly 42 years in power.

On Tuesday, Interior Minister Raymond Zephyrin Mboulou announced on state TV that Sassou Ngusso had won 94.82 percent of Sunday’s vote.

State television reported 84.65 percent voter turnout; However, many polling booths in the capital Brazzaville had short or no queues on Sunday.

Analysts and diplomats predicted that Sassou Nguesso, 82, would easily win the election after running against six lesser-known candidates.

Boycott

The two main parties boycotted the elections over allegations of unfair electoral practices, with two prominent opposition figures, General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and André Okombi Salissa, jailed for nearly 10 years.

But in the run-up to the election, the internet was shut down and traffic was restricted across the capital, as usual during presidential polls.

Clarisse Massamba, a teacher who voted at Lais Jaouah in Brazzaville, told the Associated Press news agency that Sassou Ngusso would win the election.

“Everyone knows that, facing his six inexperienced opponents, President Denis Sassou Ngusso will be re-elected with the highest score as usual. Since the election is not a big issue, we should not cut off communication,” Massamba said.

During the campaign period, Sassou Nguesso and his opponents did not match the current president, who was the only candidate to travel across the country to canvass voters by placing effigies in the capital.

In addition, Congolese human rights activist Joe Washington Ebina told the Reuters news agency that human rights activists were arrested, several opposition parties were suspended, and public meetings were closely monitored in the run-up to the election.

In power for decades

The Republic of Congo continues to struggle with high international debt, which, according to the World Bank, accounts for 94.5 percent of its gross domestic product, despite being an oil- and mineral-rich country.

Sassou Nguesso, who leads the Congolese Party of Labor, first came to power in 1979 and ruled until 1992.

In 1997, Sassou Nguesso returned to power as militia leader after a four-month civil war. In 2015, a constitutional referendum removed presidential age and term limits, allowing him to run again.