BRAZZAVILLE, REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO — Voters in the Republic of Congo head to the polls in a presidential election this weekend, with the outcome of the vote a foregone conclusion as the country’s longtime leader faces little opposition in the political arena.
Many youths say there is no reason to participate in the election as incumbent President Dennis Sassou N’Gusso is certain to win. The six opposition candidates did not pose a significant challenge to the man who ruled the oil-rich Central African country of 5.61 million people for a total of 42 years.
Sassou N’Gesso, 82, first came to power in 1979 and until the 1992 election, he finished third. He then retook the country as military leader after a four-month civil war in 1997 and has been at the helm ever since, winning four elections against a fragmented opposition.
He is the third longest-serving African leader behind Cameroon’s Paul Biya and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguma Mbasogo. A 2015 referendum removed presidential age limits and term limits, allowing Sassou N’Gesso to remain eligible for the office.
Among the country’s youth, there is little hope for any change and many are planning to vote on Sunday.
Among them is Makair Epoha, a 38-year-old mathematician who says he takes odd jobs to survive in the country’s capital Brazzaville.
“N’Guesso will be re-elected with his normal score, which is close to 80%,” Epoha said. “Elections have no effect on the youth.”
Cyprian graduated from Massamba University with a degree in Geography but has been a taxi driver for 10 years. They say they won’t vote and hope enough people will boycott the election to bring the country’s dire economic conditions to the attention of the international community.
“People are suffering in poverty,” Massamba said.
Remadzi Hoinathi, a senior researcher on Central Africa at the Institute of Security Studies, says elections only serve to “legitimize power without contesting it.”
Running on the list of his Congolese Party of Labour, N’Gesso is being contested by six candidates, including former MP Mabiyo Mawungou Zinga, who leads the opposition coalition.
Experts say the opposition has no chance once the ruling party consolidates power, often using intimidation tactics to weaken the opposition. Two main opposition candidates are boycotting the election over allegations of unfair electoral practices.
Struggling with high levels of debt and a persistent economic downturn, unemployment among 15- to 24-year-olds is 41% — nearly double the 22% rate for the entire labor force, according to the World Bank.
With its oil resources, the country’s economy is exposed to international oil market shocks and struggles with a soaring debt-to-GDP ratio — which measures its debt to economic output — at 95.4%, according to the World Bank.
“If you look at the level of debt and youth unemployment, oil revenues are not well managed in terms of not being able to diversify the economy, respond to people’s daily needs and create jobs for the youth,” said Hoinati, a senior researcher on Central Africa.
Political analysts see another issue on the horizon – the successor to the president. Pending an almost-certain electoral victory, and considering his age, he says this could be N’Gesso’s last term in office.
He says the president’s 51-year-old son Denis-Christel Sassou Nguesso – who will serve as minister for the promotion of international cooperation and public-private partnerships from 2021 – is prime for the role.
The President’s campaign pitch to the country’s youth is a call to “accelerate the march towards development”, promising to accelerate infrastructure development and mechanization of agriculture.
But in a nation where 47% of the population is under the age of 18, the youth have clearly not rallied by the call.
“The system is locked down by the old guard,” said Coretta Imongui, a 28-year-old mother of three who is looking for work.
“However, they don’t live forever,” he said. “I still have hope for my children and grandchildren.”
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Adetayo reports from Lagos, Nigeria.
(tags to translate)Politics(T)Election(T)World News(T)General News(T)Article(T)130963824
