Longtime Leader's Bid for 5th Term Sparks Controversy in Congo
The Republic of Congo holds elections amid boycotts, as President Denis Sassou Nguesso seeks to extend his 42-year rule over the Central African nation.
Brazzaville, Republic of Congo - The Republic of Congo is holding elections this weekend, but the vote is mired in controversy as longtime President Denis Sassou Nguesso seeks to extend his 42-year rule over the Central African nation.
Sassou Nguesso, 82, is running for a fifth term in office, a move that has been boycotted by major political parties and criticized by international observers as an assault on democracy. The president first came to power in 1979 and, with the exception of a five-year period in the 1990s, has ruled the country ever since.
The election is taking place against a backdrop of economic hardship and growing social unrest in the Republic of Congo. The country has struggled to recover from a prolonged oil price slump, and many citizens are frustrated by high levels of poverty, unemployment, and government corruption.
Despite the controversy, Sassou Nguesso remains confident of victory, telling reporters that he is the only leader capable of providing the
Source: Al Jazeera
