politics
March 19, 2026
Congolese president wins election by landslide
Congo’s electoral officials have declared President Denis Sassou Nguesso the winner of Sunday’s election with 94.82% of the vote
TL;DR
- Denis Sassou Nguesso won the election with 94.82% of the vote.
- He has been in power for over four decades, first coming to office in 1979.
- Turnout was 84.65% among the registered voters.
- A constitutional change in 2015 removed the presidential age limit, allowing Sassou Nguesso, 82, to run again.
- Sassou Nguesso promised continuity, stability, and development, focusing on infrastructure, education, and economic growth.
- He stated the country will maintain strong ties with Russia and other partners who work for peace.
- The election faced criticism over alleged repression of opposition and an internet outage on polling day.
- Several opposition parties boycotted the vote, citing a lack of credibility and fairness.
- Observers from the African Union, ECCAS, and OIF called the vote peaceful, calm, and transparent, urging reforms for inclusivity.
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