Denis Sassou N'Guesso, 82, has been declared the winner of the presidential election in the Republic of Congo, with 94.82% of the vote. Interior Minister Raymond Mboulou announced the provisional results on Tuesday, crediting the incumbent president with 2,507,038 votes. Pending confirmation of the results by the Constitutional Court, Sassou N'Guesso is elected in the first round for a fifth term.
The provisional results show a weak performance by the opposition, with no candidate exceeding 2% of the vote. Mabio Mavoungou Zinga, of the Alliance, came in second with 1.48% of the vote, followed by Dave Uphrem Mafoula, an independent candidate, with 1.03%. Melaine Destin Gavet Elongo of the Republican Movement won 0.87%, and Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou of La Chaîne, 0.86%. Vivien Romain Manangou, an independent candidate, is credited with 0.61%, while Anguios Nganguia Engambe of the PAR closes the march with 0.33%.
According to the Minister of the Interior, the turnout was 84.65%. The African Union's international election observation mission considered that the election was generally well conducted. However, AFP journalists present in Brazzaville on polling day reported low turnout at polling stations. Observers also noted late openings at some polling stations and a nationwide internet blackout.
Denis Sassou N'Guesso has been in power for 40 years. His new term will keep him at the head of state until 2031. Although re-elected, the constitution prohibits him from running again. The lack of transparency denounced by the opposition and the arrests of human rights activists ahead of the vote have raised concerns about the fairness of the electoral process.
