The Digester

Republic of Congo election: Nguesso expected to extend long rule as voters go to polls

Mar 13th 2026

Voters will pick a president on March 15 as long-serving leader Denis Sassou Nguesso is widely expected to win amid a weakened opposition, persistent poverty despite oil wealth, and growing threats to the Congo Basin rainforest.

  • Vote is on March 15 with polls open 6am to 6pm and about 2.6 million registered voters
  • Denis Sassou Nguesso, 82, is the dominant incumbent and is widely expected to win while a succession fight brews inside his circle
  • Melaine Deston Gavet Elengo, 35, is the most prominent new challenger promoting transparency and generational change
  • The opposition is fragmented and several prominent opponents are jailed or in exile, limiting credible competition
  • The economy relies heavily on oil while roughly half the population lives in poverty and unemployment remains high
  • Congo contains large tracts of the Congo Basin rainforest but faces rising deforestation and weak environmental governance

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