Voter participation was low, and internet access was disrupted as Congo Republic’s Sassou aims for another term
The Congo Republic held a presidential election on Sunday that is expected to prolong the tenure of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. The noticeably low voter turnout highlighted the absence of suspense regarding the election’s result.
Sassou encounters a lackluster group of opponents, as two of the nation’s most prominent opposition figures are incarcerated and others are living in exile. Multiple opposition parties chose to abstain from the vote, citing a lack of credibility in the process, which further contributed to the noticeably low voter turnout and the absence of suspense regarding the election’s result.
Over 3.2 million Congolese were registered to vote, yet analysts and civil society organizations anticipated that turnout would be lower than the nearly 68% seen in 2021, when Sassou secured his previous five-year mandate with 88.4% of the vote.
A Reuters witness reported that polling stations in the capital, Brazzaville, experienced short lines or no lines at all.
Polls were set to close at 6 p.m. local time (1700 GMT). Provisional electoral results are anticipated within 48 to 72 hours following the closure of the polls.
Internet outage reported
Sassou took control of the oil-rich nation in 1979 and has been in power for nearly the entire period since, with the exception of a five-year break in the 1990s.
He was competing against six lesser-known candidates, none regarded as serious challengers, with electoral bodies largely influenced by individuals associated with the ruling Congolese Labour Party. “The opposition is divided and does not have a prominent, unifying leader,” stated Remadji Hoinathy from the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies. “Voter fatigue might exist, yet it will not diminish Sassou’s prospects.”
On Sunday, the internet experienced widespread outages throughout the country, according to the internet monitoring group NetBlocks, complicating efforts to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the events taking place on election day.
“We can confirm that a nationwide internet blackout is currently in effect in the Republic of Congo, a measure that is expected to restrict transparency during today’s election,” stated Alp Toker, director of NetBlocks, in an email to Reuters, noting that connectivity has dropped to approximately 3% of normal levels.
Toker stated that this was “technically consistent” with an internet outage that occurred during the presidential election in 2021.
The Prime Minister of Congo, Anatole Collinet Makosso, along with Communications Minister Thierry Moungalla, did not reply to inquiries regarding the outage.
VOTERS PERCEIVE LITTLE PROSPECT FOR CHANGE
According to rights groups, the political environment in Congo has become increasingly restricted recently, pointing to the arrests of activists and the suspension of political parties.
The economy, which relies significantly on oil, has shown signs of stabilization in recent years following a prolonged downturn, but many voters remain skeptical about whether this economic improvement will lead to meaningful political change or better living conditions for the population. According to the World Bank, 52% of Congo’s 6.1 million people live in poverty.
Casting their ballots on Sunday, some Congolese expressed a desire for a new direction, without explicitly stating whether they supported Sassou or one of his opponents. “Our children are here with their diplomas, but they’re not doing anything,” Brazzaville resident Gigi Wandiabantou remarked. “Whoever will be in charge, I’m truly counting on them to assist us mothers so we can receive something.”
Some Congolese express skepticism about the possibility of change. “It’s an election whose outcome is predetermined,” remarked Frédéric Nkou, an unemployed resident of Brazzaville. “I do not anticipate any improvements.”
In anticipation of Sunday’s vote, Prime Minister Makosso refuted claims of favoritism toward Sassou, asserting that the Congo’s oversight bodies would guarantee a transparent and equitable election.
Sassou has run a campaign focused on continuity, promising to speed up development initiatives and broaden access to education and vocational training.
