2026 Republic of the Congo presidential election

2026 Republic of the Congo presidential election
15 March 2026
Registered3,167,909
Turnout84.65% ( 17.48pp)
 
Nominee Denis Sassou Nguesso Mavoungou Zinga Mabio
Party PCT AAD
Popular vote 2,507,038 39,186
Percentage 94.82% 1.48%
President before election

Denis Sassou Nguesso
PCT

Elected President

Denis Sassou Nguesso
PCT

Presidential elections were held in the Republic of the Congo on 15 March 2026.[1] Incumbent president Denis Sassou Nguesso was re-elected to a fifth term with 94.82% of the vote. He has been in power since 1997, and removed the age limit for the president in 2015. The Rally for Democracy and Development, Movement of Republicans, and the People's Party formed the Alliance for Democratic Alternation in 2026 to contest the election.

Electoral system

The President of the Republic of the Congo is elected for a five-year term, with the possibility of a maximum of two re-elections. In the election, only the candidate who obtains an absolute majority of valid votes is elected. If no candidate reaches that majority, the two candidates with the highest votes face a second round twenty-one days after the results are announced by the Constitutional Court.[2] The age limit of 70 years was removed by a referendum in 2015.[3] A revision of the electoral rolls began in September and lasted until December 2025.[4]

Background

Denis Sassou Nguesso has been president of the Republic of the Congo since 1997, and previously held the position from 1979 to 1992.[3] He won the 2002, 2009, 2016, and 2021 elections.[5]

The 2021 election was boycotted by the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS). Freedom House gave the Republic of the Congo a 2/40 for political rights in its 2024 report.[6]

Candidates

In 2023, the Rally for Democracy and Development (RDD), Movement of Republicans (MR), and the People's Party (PAPE) formed a united opposition, the Alliance for Democratic Alternation in 2026 (2AD2026). RDD was the political party of Joachim Yhombi-Opango, who served as president from 1977 to 1979.[5][7]

Lassy Mbouity, the leader of Les Socialistes Congolais, declared his candidacy for the election. However, he was kidnapped on 11 May 2025.[8]

Nguesso's son Denis-Christel Sassou Nguesso was elected to the National Assembly. It was believed that Nguesso is grooming his son to succeed him.[9][10] However, in December 2025, the ruling Congolese Party of Labour nominated the elder Nguesso as its presidential candidate following a three-day congress.[11] He subsequently confirmed his candidacy on 5 February 2026.[12]

The opposition Pan-African Union for Social Democracy said it would not field a candidate in the election.[13]

On 20 February 2026 the Constitutional Court validated seven candidates for the election; Denis Sassou Nguesso (Congolese Party of Labour), Nganguia Engambé Anguios (independent), Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou (La Chaine), Mafoula Uphrem Dave (independent), Mavoungou Zinga Mabio (Alliance), Manangou Vivien Romain (independent) and Gavet Elengo Melaine Destin (Republican Movement).[14][15]

Campaign

Campaigning began on 28 February and ended on 13 March.[16] The campaign period was heavily dominated toward Sassou Nguesso, as he was the only candidate allowed to travel around the country to canvass for votes.[17] Effigies of Sassou Nguesso were observed in Brazzaville, and major parties boycotted the elections over allegations of unfair electoral practices.[18] Ahead of the vote, human rights activists were arrested, several opposition parties were suspended, and public gatherings were ​closely monitored.[19]

Conduct

Voting opened at 07:00 WAT and closed at 18:00 WAT.[20] A nationwide internet blackout occurred that same day.[21]

Results

Provisional results, which were announced by Interior Minister Raymond Mboulou on 17 March, revealed that the incumbent President, Denis Sassou Nguesso, was re-elected to a fifth term with 94.82% of the vote.[17] Mboulou reported that the turnout of the election was 84.65%,[22] with a total of 2.6 million ballots cast.[17] However, this was in contrast to polling stations in Brazzaville being observed to have short lines or no lines at all.[23] AAD candidate Mabio Mavoungou Zinga, the closest challenger to Sassou Nguesso, won 1.48% of the vote.[19] Independent candidate Uphrem Dave Mafoula followed in third place with 1.03% of the vote.[24]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Denis Sassou NguessoCongolese Party of Labour2,507,03894.82
Mavoungou Zinga MabioAlliance for Democratic Alternation39,1861.48
Uphrem Dave MafoulaIndependent27,2591.03
Destin GavetRepublican Movement23,0770.87
Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MboungouLa Chaine22,7450.86
Vivien Romain ManangouIndependent16,0080.61
Nganguia Engambé AnguiosIndependent8,7000.33
Total2,644,013100.00
Valid votes2,644,01398.60
Invalid/blank votes37,5741.40
Total votes2,681,587100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,167,90984.65
Source: Vox

References

  1. ^ "Republic of Congo presidential election set for March 15". Africanews. 22 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Congo, Brazzaville, Constitution 2015". Digithèque de matériaux juridiques et politiques. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Congo-Brazzaville 'dinosaur' remains in region beset by military juntas". Voice of America. 2 May 2024. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Congo begins electoral roll revision ahead of 2026 presidential vote". Africanews. 4 September 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Congo: a new opposition platform for an alternative in 2026". Africanews. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Republic of the Congo: Freedom in the World 2024 Country Report". Freedom House. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Opposition coalition in Republic of Congo holds first convention". Al Jazeera English. 8 May 2023. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Congo's opposition leader kidnapped in Brazzaville". Africanews. 17 May 2025. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025.
  9. ^ Tampa, Vava (10 April 2021). "Sassou rules like an emperor while Congolese die from extreme poverty". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025.
  10. ^ Melly, Paul (29 May 2021). "Africa's political dynasties: How presidents groom their sons for power". BBC. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Congo president Sassou Nguesso to seek re-election in March 2026". France 24. 31 December 2025.
  12. ^ "Republic of Congo: president declares himself candidate for elections". Africanews. 5 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Republic of Congo's president says he will run for reelection, possibly extending decades-long rule". AP News. 6 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Congo Election Set to Extend Sassou Nguesso's 42-Year Rule". Africa Today News New York. 13 March 2026. Archived from the original on 17 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026. The seven candidates validated by the Constitutional Court on February 20 are Sassou Nguesso of the ruling Congolese Labour Party and six challengers, Nganguia Engambé Anguios, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou, Uphrem Dave Mafoula, Mavoungou Zinga Mabio, Manangou Vivien Romain, and Gavet Elengo Melaine Destin.
  15. ^ "Opposition candidates in Congo Republic's presidential election". Reuters. 11 March 2026. Archived from the original on 17 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  16. ^ "Presidential campaign starts in Congo-Brazzaville". Africanews. 28 February 2026.
  17. ^ a b c Okamba, Louis (17 March 2026). "Republic of Congo's president reelected to fifth term, provisional results show". AP. Archived from the original on 17 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026. Sassou N'Guesso won 94,82% of the vote, Interior Minister Raymond Zephirin Mboulou announced on state television.
  18. ^ "Republic of Congo's president reelected to fifth term, provisional results show". Africanews. 17 March 2026. Archived from the original on 17 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  19. ^ a b "Congo Republic's Sassou wins re-election with nearly 95% in tightly controlled vote". Reuters. 17 March 2026. Archived from the original on 17 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026. Sassou's closest challenger, Mabio Mavoungou Zinga, 69, a retired customs inspector and former member of parliament, won 1.48% of the vote.
  20. ^ "Congo-Brazzaville's president set to extend four-decade rule". Africanews. 15 March 2026.
  21. ^ "Republic of Congo vote overshadowed by blackout, poverty concerns". Africanews. 17 March 2026.
  22. ^ "Congo-Brazzaville's Sassou Nguesso reaps landslide re-election win, provisional results suggest". France 24. 17 March 2026. Archived from the original on 17 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  23. ^ Mohamed, Edna (17 March 2026). "Congolese President Sassou Nguesso wins fifth term: Provisional results". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 17 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026. State television also reported turnout of 84.65 percent; however, many polling stations in the capital, Brazzaville, on Sunday had short lines or no lines at all.
  24. ^ Mankene, Marna Julie (17 March 2026). "Denis Sassou N'Guesso triomphe à la présidentielle avec 94,82% des voix". Vox TV (in French). Archived from the original on 18 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
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