Congo Elections: Déjà Vu or Chance for Change?
Voters in the Republic of Congo head to the polls, but analysts predict a near-certain victory for long-ruling President Denis Sassou Nguesso. Will this election bring any surprises?
Republic of Congo voters will head to the polls this Sunday to elect their next leader, but many political analysts predict a foregone conclusion - the re-election of long-time President Denis Sassou Nguesso. Nguesso has ruled the country for over 36 years, with a brief interruption in the 1990s, and is widely expected to extend his grip on power despite growing calls for democratic reforms.
Nguesso first came to power in 1979 and has since consolidated his authority, effectively making the Republic of Congo a one-party state. The main opposition parties have either boycotted the elections or been sidelined, leaving little doubt about the outcome. Nguesso faces a field of lesser-known challengers, none of whom are seen as credible threats to his continued rule.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}Source: Deutsche Welle
