Incumbent President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo has been re-elected for another five-year term after provisional results from the March 15, 2026 presidential election gave him a landslide first-round victory, with 94.82 per cent of the total votes cast nationwide.
The official provisional results, announced by the Minister of Interior, Raymond Zephirin Mboulou, through the state broadcaster, Télé Congo, showed that Nguesso swept across all 15 departments of the country, recording above 80 per cent of votes in virtually every zone and exceeding 95 per cent in several regions.
The ministry said national voter turnout stood at 84.65 per cent, with 2,681,587 voters participating out of 3,167,909 registered voters. Of this figure, 2,644,013 votes were counted as valid, while 37,574 ballots were declared invalid.
The incumbent’s dominance was most pronounced in interior departments, where his vote share soared to near or above 99 per cent, particularly in Likouala, Cuvette, and Plateaux.
Even in the more urbanised centres of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, Nguesso polled above 89 per cent.
The six opposition candidates, who contested against Nguesso, collectively garnered only 5.2 per cent of the total votes.
The best-placed challenger, Mavoungou Zinga Mabio, managed no more than 1.48 per cent, while other contenders, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou, Uphrem Dave Mafoula, Destin Gavet, Manangou Vivien Romain, and Nganguia Engambe Anguios, each secured less than one per cent of votes across the country.
Political analysts said the outcome reflected a fragmented opposition and was consistent with the pre-election climate, where surveys had predicted a comfortable victory for the incumbent.
They added that Nguesso’s re-election provided a legal framework for him to consolidate Congo’s national and foreign policy direction, with emphasis on a development-focused administration.
On election day, the president had restated his commitment to deepening Congo’s partnership with the Russian Federation and ensuring stability throughout his term.
International and domestic observers described the exercise as peaceful and orderly.
At a press conference held on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, former Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who led the African Union observer mission to Congo, commended the conduct of the poll.
Akufo-Addo said the mission was satisfied with the calm and secure environment that prevailed throughout the electoral process, noting that 13 of the 15 departments were covered by AU observers.
He praised the political maturity shown by the Congolese people and the competent authorities in the management of the exercise.
However, the election was not without controversy. Several polling stations recorded delays in the commencement of voting, attributed to the late arrival of voter cards, a logistics challenge that drew criticism.
A nationwide internet blackout that coincided with the voting period also generated widespread condemnation from civil society groups and opposition figures.
The provisional results announced by the Interior Ministry are yet to acquire final legal force and will be forwarded to the Constitutional Court for validation within the statutory period. Upon confirmation by the court, Nguesso will be formally sworn in to continue in office.
Political observers said he is heading into what is expected to be his final constitutional term.
