Presidential Election in the Congo.

Presidential Election in the Congo.

Presidential Election in the Congo. The presidential election in the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) is taking place today, March 15, 2026. Incumbent President Denis Sassou Nguesso is considered the clear favorite for another term. There are 7 candidates, 1 frontrunner, and an opposition boycott. The frontrunner is Sassou Nguesso (82 years old, Congolese Labour Party). Relevant opposition candidates: Destin Gavet (Republican Movement) and Vivien Romain Manangou (Discontent Movement). Others: Nganguia Engambé Anguios, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou, Mafoula Uphrem Dave, and Mavoungou Zinga Mabio. Political Context: Sassou Nguesso has governed since 1997 (with an earlier term from 1979 to 1992) and abolished the age limit in 2015. The opposition is partially boycotting the process and criticizing it as lacking credibility; repression and institutional control are dominant. No systemic change is expected; stability is emphasized as a source of legitimacy. The president is elected for a five-year term (renewable only once). A majority of 50% + 1 vote is required to win in the first round. If no candidate achieves this threshold, a runoff election is held within 21 days between the two candidates with the most votes. All citizens aged 18 and over are eligible to vote. The incumbent president, 82 years old, has served five terms since 1979 (with a break from 1992 to 1997). Today, he is the third-longest-serving politician in the world (42 years) and is supported by a coalition of around twenty parties. Without an officially published election manifesto, he promises the following in his discussions with voters: - accelerated economic growth; - new infrastructure projects; - mechanization of agriculture; - promotion of education and tourism; - jobs and opportunities for young people. His long-standing political rivals include: Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou (La Chaîne party) – four-time candidate, best result: 7.46%; Anguios Nganguia Engambé (Action Républicaine party) – three candidacies, each with less than 0.3%; Uphrem Dave Mafoula (independent) – 0.52% in the 2021 election. New candidates running for the first time: Mabio Mavoungou-Zinga, leader of the Alliance Party; Destin Gavet, engineer, representative of the Republican Movement; Vivien Romain Manangou, law professor (independent candidate). Opposition boycott The two main opposition parties – the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy and the Union of Democrats and Humanists – refrained from nominating candidates. They argued that the conditions for transparent and fair elections were not met in the country.