Republic of the Congo Holds Elections Amid a Repressive Political Environment

Author: Vera Rousseff

March 17, 2026

HRRC strongly condemns the corrupt and repressive practices of Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso. We call on the leaders of the Republic of the Congo to implement reforms to protect political freedoms and create employment opportunities for the country’s population, especially its youth.

Denis Sassou Nguesso, the current president of the Republic of the Congo, speaks in Brazzaville after casting his vote during the presidential election on March 15, 2026. [Image credit: REUTERS/Roch Bouka]

On Sunday, March 15, the Republic of the Congo, located on the western coast of Central Africa, held a presidential election to determine whether President Denis Sassou Nguesso will serve for a fifth term. Nguesso has maintained nearly uninterrupted control over the country for more than four decades, with voters expressing little hope of political or economic change.

The Republic of the Congo, also referred to as Congo-Brazzaville to distinguish it from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is a former French colony that gained independence in 1960. It is Sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest producer of oil and also has rich deposits of mineral resources and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Despite this abundance of natural resources, the World Bank estimates that more than half of the country’s population lives below the poverty line. 

This year’s election took place on Sunday, and results are expected to be announced within 72 hours after the conclusion of the voting period. Early reports describe low voter turnout and predict a likely victory for 82-year-old Nguesso. For many Congolese citizens, this comes as no surprise. The incumbent president, who has severely repressed all political opposition during his time in office, faces no serious competition in this year’s election. The country’s main opposition leaders are either in prison or in exile, and two major opposition parties have boycotted the election. Experts predict that the six little-known candidates who did participate in the election against Nguesso will not be able to gather a sufficient number of votes to present a challenge to the four-term president.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, one Congolese civil servant said he did not expect any real change to come from the election. “At my age, believing that these elections will change our daily lives would be almost suicidal,” he said. “I’ve known practically the same leader all my life. Some call it stability. Others say that nothing changes.”

Many young people in the Republic of the Congo, even those with advanced degrees, struggle to find stable employment. 37-year-old Romain Tchicaya sells unregulated medicines on the street despite having graduated from university with a degree in management. “We are told that the country is rich in oil. But I don’t see that wealth in my daily life,” he told Al Jazeera. 

The Republic of the Congo’s dependency on oil revenue creates a system where economic resources and political power go hand in hand, fueling a cycle of corruption and political repression. The country’s government officials and their families pocket a large part of the oil earnings and often siphon the money to foreign countries, leaving little to re-invest into the local economy. Nguesso’s children have been connected to purchases of luxurious properties in Paris and New York, including a $7.1 million apartment at Trump Tower in New York City.

Experts say that for the situation in the Republic of the Congo to improve, Congolese leaders must prioritize creating jobs for young people, improving public services, and diversifying the economy.

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Glossary

• Abundance: a very large amount of something.

• Boycott: to refuse to participate in something as a form of protest.

• Civil servant: a person who works for the government in a non-political job.

• Corruption: dishonest or illegal behavior by people in power, often involving the misuse of public money.

• Dependency: a situation where a country relies heavily on something, such as oil, for income or support.

• Diversify: to develop different types of industries or economic activities instead of relying on only one.

• Exile: a situation in which someone is forced to live outside their home country, often for political reasons.

• Incumbent: a person who currently holds a political office.

• Liquefied natural gas (LNG): natural gas that has been cooled until it becomes liquid so it can be transported more easily.

• Mineral resources: natural substances found in the earth that can be used for economic purposes, such as metals or fuels.

• Opposition: political groups or leaders who challenge the current government.

• Political freedoms: the rights that allow people to participate in politics and express their political views without fear of punishment. 

• Political opposition: individuals, political parties, or groups that disagree with the government or the ruling party and try to challenge it through elections, public criticism, or political organizing.

• Poverty line: the level of income needed to meet basic living needs; people below this level are considered poor.

• Repression: actions taken by a government to control people and limit their freedoms, often using force or intimidation.

• Siphon (money): to secretly take money for personal use, usually in an illegal or dishonest way.

• Turnout (voter turnout): the number or percentage of people who vote in an election.

• Unregulated medicines: medicines that are sold or distributed without approval, testing, or supervision from government health authorities.

• Voter turnout: the percentage or number of eligible voters who actually vote in an election.