Republic of Congo votes in election that could extend Sassou’s 42-year rule

Incumbent President Denis Sassou Nguesso, 82, is running for a fifth term in an election boycotted by major political parties.Published On 15 Mar 2026The Republic of Congo is voting in a presidential election widely expected to extend Denis Sassou Nguesso’s decades-long rule by another five years, with limited active opposition and little uncertainty about the result.Polls opened at 7am local time (06:00 GMT) on Sunday and will close at 6pm (17:00 GMT).Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Republic of Congo election: Who is running and what’s at stake?list 2 of 3‘Nothing changes’: Four decades in power, Congo’s Nguesso seeks a new termlist 3 of 3Poor in oil-rich Republic of Congo: As election looms, youth want changeend of listMore than 3.2 million Congolese are registered to vote, although analysts and civil society groups expect the turnout to fall below the nearly 68 percent recorded in 2021, when Sassou won with 88.4 percent of the vote.The Republic of Congo, the third-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa and a producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), is one of the most politically repressive countries in the world, with Freedom House giving it a 17 out of 100 rating for freedom.Sassou, 82, seized power in 1979 and has ‌governed almost continuously since, except for a five-year hiatus in the 1990s. He is running against six little-known candidates, with analysts saying none of them can mount a significant challenge against the incumbent, who has been in power for nearly 42 years.The campaign showed a vast mismatch between Sassou and his opponents, with the incumbent being the only candidate to travel around the country to canvass for votes. Roads in the capital city, Brazzaville, are paved with Sassou’s effigies.The country’s electoral bodies are also dominated by figures aligned with the ruling Congolese Labour Party. Two other major parties are boycotting the elections over allegations of unfair electoral practices. Two of the country’s best‑known opposition leaders are in prison, while others are in exile.