Presidential Election Campaign Officially Begins in Congo-Brazzaville

The Republic of the Congo has officially kicked off its presidential election campaign ahead of next month’s elections scheduled for March 15.

Portraits and posters bearing messages of support for the various candidates are already on display across major roads and public squares in the country’s capital, Brazzaville.

From Saturday until March 13, the candidates have two weeks to persuade undecided voters in hopes of securing favorable results on the ballot.

The 82-year-old President Denis Sassou Nguesso is actively in the race, hoping to secure another term after over 40 years in power. According to the constitution, this would be his last if he clinches a five-year term.

The career military officer first led the Republic of the Congo, which is also known as Congo-Brazzaville, under the one-party system from 1979 to 1992 before losing the country’s first multi-party elections to former prime minister Pascal Lissouba.

He overthrew Lissouba in a civil war to return to power in 1997.

Six opposition candidates have formally confirmed they will be standing, including 34-year-old Destin Gavin from the Republican Movement (MR), who is in the race for the first time.

Sassou Nguesso is one of Africa’s longest-ruling leaders after Paul Biya of Cameroon, who has been in office since 1982, and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, who took power in a 1979 coup.