Denis Sassou Nguesso Re-Elected President of Congo-Brazzaville

Brazzaville, 18 March 2026 - Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected president of the Republic of Congo, securing a fifth term with 94.82% of the vote following elections held on 15 March 2026. The 82-year-old leader, representing the Congolese Labour Party, defeated six other candidates. His closest challenger, Mabio Mavoungou Zinga, received 1.48% of the vote. The results, announced by national authorities, extend Sassou Nguesso’s rule, which has spanned nearly four decades since he first came to power in 1979. Although he briefly lost power in 1992, he returned to leadership in 1997 following a civil war. Opposition candidates have a five-day window to file appeals, which will be reviewed by the Constitutional Court before the final results are confirmed. A constitutional amendment adopted in 2015 removed presidential term limits and age restrictions, enabling Sassou Nguesso to run for additional terms. The Republic of Congo, located in Central Africa, borders Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and has a population of over six million people.