Congo’s incumbent President Denis Sassou Nguesso tightened his grip on power as the Constitutional Court confirmed his landslide win in the March 15 elections.
In a statement, Constitutional Court President Auguste Iloki confirmed that the 82-year-old won an absolute majority with 94.9% of the vote on a turnout of 65.9%.
This figure is slightly higher than the provisional results released by Interior Minister Raymond Mboulou on March 17, in which Sassou Nguesso secured 94.82%, Andalou Ajasi reported.
The victory means Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected for a fifth consecutive term, extending his rule over the Central African nation to nearly 42 years.
He also cemented his position as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, alongside Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Cameroon’s President Paul Biya and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
Sassou Nguesso is set to be inaugurated for his new term on April 16, although further details about the event have yet to be disclosed.
Court rejects appeal to annul vote
The announcement came after the court dismissed an appeal filed by two opposition candidates, including Uprehem Dave Mafoula, who challenged the election results.
Mafoula submitted a formal complaint on March 20, alleging irregularities in the electoral process and seeking the immediate annulment of the results.
However, the court upheld the outcome, aligning with the position of the African Union observer mission, which said the voting process reflected political maturity and showed indicators of free and credible polls.
The decision was not a surprise, with many experts pointing to a fragmented and weak opposition as a key factor, the Daily Post Nigeria reported.
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An expected victory amid opposition boycott
Sassou Nguesso’s victory was widely expected, as prominent opposition parties such as the Patriotic Union for National Renewal (UPRN), the Congolese Opposition Front (FOC) and the National Council of Republicans (CNR) boycotted the polls.
UPRN argued the election was “simulated,” while FOC described it as a “masquerade,” and CNR said conditions for a free and transparent vote had not been “realised,” African Arguments reported.
Meanwhile, prominent opposition figures General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and Andre Okombi Salisa have been imprisoned for nearly a decade on charges of endangering state security and illegal possession of weapons.
As a result, Sassou Nguesso, who leads the ruling Congolese Party of Labour, faced six lesser-known candidates.
Among them, Mabio Mavoungo Zinga of the Alliance Party finished second with 1.48%, followed by Mafoula of the Sovereigns Party with 1.03%.
Other candidates included Anguios Nganguia Engambe, Melanie Deston Gavet Elengo, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou and independent Vivien Romain Manangou.
Sassou Nguesso promises continuity
During the campaign, Sassou Nguesso toured the country, touting his record and outlining plans focused on continuity, development, governance, anti-corruption efforts and stability amid rising geopolitical tensions.
He also pledged to further develop the country’s industrial and agricultural sectors to drive economic growth and create jobs.
In addition, he said his administration would prioritise infrastructure projects to address high youth unemployment, which he claimed has fallen from 44 per cent to 39 per cent in recent years.
Beyond economic promises, Sassou Nguesso vowed that he will maintain strong bilateral relations with countries with succinct diplomacy and free of destabilisation.
Little hope for change
Despite these promises, many Congolese have little hope that conditions will improve under a leader who has ruled for decades.
Gilbert, a 44-year-old civil servant from Brazzaville, told Al Jazeera he does not believe elections will bring meaningful change.
“At my age, believing that these elections will change our daily lives would be almost suicidal. I’ve known practically the same leader all my life,” he said.
Similarly, Frederic Nkou, an unemployed resident, told Reuters he does not expect improvements, saying the outcome was already known in advance, reflecting widespread public disengagement.
Congo, an oil-dependent nation, remains relatively stable compared to conflict-hit countries in Africa, though at least 52% of its 6.1 million people live in poverty, according to the World Bank.
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