Court Confirms Sassou Nguesso Re-elected Congo-Brazzaville's President
Last update: March 29, 2026
Disclaimer: This website may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you click on the link and make a purchase. We only recommend products or services that we personally use and believe will add value to our readers. Your support is appreciated!
Congo's Sassou Nguesso wins fifth term landslide...
Denis Sassou Nguesso has secured 95 percent of the vote in an election extending his decades-long rule, the constitutional court said late Saturday.
The March 15 poll grants the 82-year-old leader of Republic of the Congo a new five-year term, further cementing his hold on power in the oil-rich nation.
“Denis Sassou Nguesso won an absolute majority and is elected president with 94.9 percent of votes on a turnout of 65.9 percent,” constitutional court head Auguste Iloki said during a public hearing.
Opposition candidates, who have contested every election won by Sassou Nguesso, rejected the outcome. One challenger, Dave Mafoula, petitioned the court to annul the vote, but the request was dismissed.
Sassou Nguesso first ruled the country under a one-party system from 1979 to 1992 before losing the first multi-party elections. He returned to power in 1997 after a civil war and has since been re-elected five times in ballots the opposition says lacked transparency.
A former paratrooper colonel, he ranks among Africa’s longest-serving leaders alongside Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Paul Biya.
While his government points to relative stability, rights groups have repeatedly accused authorities of targeting opposition figures. Two candidates from the 2016 election are currently serving 20-year prison terms for offences related to internal security.
Under the constitution, Sassou Nguesso will be barred from running again in 2031, when his new term expires.
