‘Nothing changes’: Four decades in power, Congo’s Nguesso seeks a new term

In the Republic of Congo, President Denis Sassou Nguesso, who has been in power for 40 years, is seeking another term in the upcoming election. Despite being the third-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa, about half of the country's population lives below the poverty line. Many Congolese citizens express skepticism about the potential for change, citing stagnant living conditions and a lack of improvement under Nguesso's long rule. Nguesso first came to power in 1979 and, after a period of transition and a civil war, has ruled continuously since 1997, enabled by constitutional revisions that altered eligibility requirements. The election posters of the seven candidates are visible across the capital, but many voters feel that "nothing changes" regardless of the outcome.

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