BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (AP) 鈥� 鈥檚 , who has ruled for 42 years, was reelected for a fifth consecutive term, according to provisional results announced Tuesday by authorities.
Sassou N鈥橤uesso won 94,82% of the vote, Interior Minister Raymond Zephirin Mboulou said on state television.
Six other candidates challenged the 82-year-old for the top job in the Central African country that boasts one of the largest oil reserves in sub-Saharan Africa.
The internet was shut down across the country as usual during the presidential election and traffic was restricted across the capital.
The election is the latest in a trend of octogenarian African leaders clinging to power. Sassou N鈥橤uesso is the third-longest-serving African president, only behind 鈥檚 Paul Biya and 鈥檚 Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
The interior minister reported a turnout of 84.65% and 2.6 million ballots cast. But many polling stations in the capital Brazzaville saw short or non-existent lines, as locals said they did not believe from Sassou N鈥橤uesso, who has ruled for 42 years.
Mabio Mavoungou Zinga of the Alliance party came in second with 1.48% of votes, closely followed by independent candidate Uphrem Dave Mafoula who received 1.03% of the vote, according to the provisional results. The other four candidates got less than 1% of the vote.
The provisional results still have to be approved by the constitutional Court.
鈥淏y reelecting me by a landslide, the people have kept their word. Now it is up to us to keep ours. We promise to commit ourselves fully to doing everything possible,” Sassou N鈥橤uesso told reporters at his party鈥檚 headquarters. He said the high turnout reflected the population’s 鈥渃ivic-mindedness鈥� and 鈥減atriotism.鈥�
President extends decades-long rule
Sassou N鈥橤uesso, running for the Congolese Party of Labor, first came to power in 1979 and ruled until 1992 when he organized the country鈥檚 first multi-party elections. He returned to power as a militia leader following a four-month civil war in 1997.
The campaign period showed a vast mismatch between Sassou N鈥橤uesso and his opponents, with the incumbent being the only candidate to travel around the country to canvass for votes. Roads in the capital city, Brazzaville, were paved with Sassou N鈥橤uesso鈥檚 effigies.
Two other major parties boycotted the elections over allegations of unfair electoral practices.
A constitutional referendum in 2015 removed presidential age and term limits, allowing him to run again.
The country is struggling with high international debt, which stands at 94.5% of its gross domestic product, according to the World Bank, and skyrocketing unemployment rates for young people. More than half the country鈥檚 5.7 million population lives in poverty and 47% of the country鈥檚 population is under 18.
Many Congolese disillusioned with president’s reelection
In Brazzaville, the president’s reelection did not surprise most residents.
鈥淓veryone knew he would be reelected against candidates who were no match for him. The blame lies with the manipulated opposition, which failed to field a single candidate, thus leaving the field open to the presidential camp,鈥� said Jean Baptiste Mahoukou, a taxi driver.
鈥淟ike many of my friends I didn鈥檛 vote simply because everything was rigged to ensure that President Denis Sassou N鈥橤uesso continues to govern us,” said Christian Sondou, 52, a carpenter. “Having been in power for over 40 years, Denis Sassou N鈥橤uesso has failed to lift the country out of poverty. He should have stepped down and handed power over to the young people.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 no need to lament, we must be patient as he won鈥檛 be around forever,鈥� said Elise Sonia, a vendor at the Makelekele market. 鈥淣ature will take care of this generation that clings to power without making the slightest effort to build and develop the country.”
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This story has been corrected to spell Sassou N’Guesso’s first name as Denis, not Dennis.
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