Republic of Congo: president declares himself candidate for elections
## Political Developments in the Republic of Congo
Political Developments in the Republic of Congo
The Republic of Congo is scheduled to conduct its presidential election on Sun, Mar 12, 2023, and Wed, Mar 15, 2023. Denis Sassou N'Guesso, who initially assumed leadership in 1979 and resumed power in 1997, has maintained his presidency since that time.
Denis Sassou N'Guesso recently confirmed his candidacy for the upcoming election. This announcement aligns with previous appeals from senior officials and party leaders urging him to participate. The declaration was made on Thu, Feb 5, 2023, during an agricultural fair.
The choice of the announcement date, Feb 5, holds historical significance. It marks the anniversary of N'Guesso's first term commencement in 1979 as the leader of what was then known as the People's Republic of the Congo. Following his return to power in 1997, N'Guesso has been re-elected in 2002, 2009, 2016, and 2021.
The Republic of Congo is scheduled to conduct its presidential election on Sun, Mar 12, 2023, and Wed, Mar 15, 2023.
Constitutional Changes and Re-elections
In 2015, a constitutional amendment was enacted to permit N'Guesso, now 82 years old, to seek more than two presidential terms. Opposition parties have consistently challenged the legitimacy of the election results, claiming bias towards N'Guesso, though these protests have typically been subdued.
Based on reporting by Africanews.
