The people of the Republic of Congo would today decide who governs them in the next 5 years with current President, Denis Sassou Nguesso aiming to extend his decades-long hold on power in the Central African state, Njenje Media News reports.
77-year old President Nguesso, dubbed “Emperor,” has spent 36 years in office as Congo’s ruler, having been recently elected in 2016 for a third term in office is contesting for a fourth term with six other candidates eyeing the nation’s number one seat, but the retired general appears favoured to win a fourth term as his strongest rival Guy Parfait Kolelas is down with covid-19, fighting for his life in hospital.
According to TVC News, The largest opposition group, the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy, is already boycotting the ballot.
Sitting between Gabon and its giant neighbour the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo has significant oil reserves and 80 per cent of its budget comes from petroleum.
Congo’s Catholic Church episcopal conference has already expressed “serious reservations” about the transparency of the ballot and fears a possible internet shutdown on Sunday, as in the 2016 election.
