Analysts had widely expected an easy victory for the 82-year-old, who faced six little-known challengers in a tightly managed race under the ruling Congolese Labour Party.
Most opposition parties opted not to field candidates, citing a lack of transparency, while prominent figures such as General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and Andre Okombi Salissa have spent nearly a decade in detention.
According to Reuters, human rights activists reported arrests, suspensions of opposition groups, and close monitoring of public gatherings ahead of the vote. The election day was marked by late openings at polling stations and a nationwide internet blackout.
State television reported turnout at 84.65%, though observers noted many stations, especially in Brazzaville, had short or no lines. Sassou’s closest challenger, Mabio Mavoungou Zinga, a retired customs inspector and former MP, received only 1.48% of the vote.
Africa’s long-serving leaders: Why extended tenures persist
Denis Sassou Nguesso first became president of the Congo Republic in 1979 and served until 1992, totaling 13 years in his first term. After losing the multi-party elections, he was out of office until 1997, when he returned following a civil war.
Since then, he has remained in power continuously up to 2026, adding 29 more years. Combined, Sassou Nguesso has been president for about 42 years, making him Africa’s third longest-serving current leader.
A constitutional amendment in 2015 scrapped term limits and the presidential age cap, allowing him to run for additional five-year terms. This latest term is intended to be his last, intensifying discussions over succession within the ruling party.
Across Africa, extended presidential tenures are common, with leaders like Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in Equatorial Guinea (45+ years) and Paul Biya in Cameroon (44+ years) maintaining power for decades.
Analysts attribute this pattern to weak institutional checks, limited opposition, and the personalization of power, which allows leaders to modify constitutions and dominate political landscapes.
While Congo’s oil-dependent economy has stabilized after a decade-long downturn, over half of its population lives in poverty.
Basic services like electricity, running water, and healthcare remain limited, and Sassou’s government faces ongoing corruption investigations abroad involving family-held assets. Despite this, the president’s grip on power remains firm, highlighting the persistence of long-serving leadership in parts of Africa.
