CONGO. Brazzaville: Results from the Congo- Brazzaville presidential elections shows incumbent Denis Sassou Nguesso is leading with a wider margin
A vote will add another 5-year term to the 77-year old’s total 36 years as the head of state of the Central African country.
According to preliminary results from the electoral commission showed that Sassou-Nguesso won the presidential election with 88.57 percent of the vote,
He is well ahead of his main rival Guy – Brice Parfait Kolelas, who died from coronavirus on Sunday.
Kolelas took 7.84 percent of the vote, according to the results which can be appealed to the Constitutional Court.
Read Also: Congo’s Nguesso Takes Early Lead In Polls
66. 55 percent of voters turned out for the election.
One of the world’s longest-serving rulers, Sassou Nguesso was the frontrunner in an election boycotted by the main opposition and held under an internet blackout.
He has long been accused by critics of iron-fisted rule and turning a blind eye to corruption, poverty and inequality despite abundant oil wealth.
Observer Recommendations
Dr Sergio Esono, Head of the electoral observation mission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) said: “The election on March 21, 2021 was conducted peacefully and serenely.
“The enthusiasm of Congolese voters for the election was clearly significant,” he said as he added that 23 observers had been deployed.
“The ECCAS mission expresses the hope that the electoral process, in particular the compilation of the results and possible litigation, takes place calmly and in compliance with the electoral codes,” he said.
The African Union through its Head of Observer Mission Dielita Mohammed hailed the polls as peaceful.
Through a press conference, he said the polls “consolidated the democratic achievements of the people of Congo”.
He however assured stakeholders that his team will continue monitoring final processes including announcement of final results.
The Mission then called upon all involved parties to accept the results and follow democratic and legal processes.
The presidential election results can be appealed to the Constitutional Court.
