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Denis Sassou Nguesso faces seven challengers in Republic of Congo’s presidential election on Sunday, but the 81-year-old leader is virtually guaranteed victory after ruling for over four decades. Sassou Nguesso first took power in 1979, was ousted in 1992, then returned via civil war in 1997 and has remained in office since. His Congolese Labor Party has systematically weakened opposition through intimidation tactics, with two major opposition candidates boycotting the election entirely.

Despite sitting on substantial oil reserves, Congo-Brazzaville ranks 171st out of 193 countries on the UN Human Development Index, with widespread poverty among its 6 million citizens while corruption and mismanagement have enriched the ruling elite. The fragmented opposition failed to unite behind a single candidate against Sassou Nguesso, who changed the constitution in 2015 to remove age and term limits that would have forced his retirement. International observers note the election occurs in one of the world’s most politically repressive environments.

Sources:

• Incumbent Sassou favoured in Congo Republic ballot amid rights concerns | Reuters
• Republic of the Congo elections: A foregone conclusion?
• Congo-Brazzaville election: Sassou Nguesso set to extend his rule
• Republic of Congo election: Who is running and what’s at stake? | Elections News | Al Jazeera

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