Voters in Republic of the Congo went to the polls on Sunday in a presidential election widely expected to extend the rule of long-serving leader Denis Sassou Nguesso, as a visibly low turnout reflected limited public excitement about the outcome.
Sassou Nguesso, one of Africa’s longest-serving heads of state, faces a weak group of challengers after two prominent opposition figures were jailed while others fled into exile. Several opposition parties also boycotted the vote, claiming the electoral process lacked credibility.
More than 3.2 million registered voters were eligible to participate in the poll, though analysts and civil society groups predicted turnout would fall below the nearly 68 per cent recorded in the 2021 election, when Sassou secured 88.4 per cent of the vote to win another five-year mandate.
At several polling stations in the capital, Brazzaville, there were short queues or none at all, according to eyewitness accounts.
After casting his ballot in Brazzaville, Sassou told reporters he hoped the enthusiasm he claimed to have witnessed during the campaign would be reflected in the final turnout figure.
“We remain hopeful that what I heard throughout the campaign will materialise today,” he said.
Voting was scheduled to close at 6 p.m. local time, with ballot counting expected to begin immediately afterwards. Provisional results are anticipated between 48 and 72 hours after the polls close.
Concerns also emerged over an internet outage reported across the country on election day. Internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks said connectivity had dropped to about three per cent of normal levels.
“We confirm that a nation-scale internet blackout is now in effect in the Republic of Congo, a measure likely to limit transparency during today’s election,” said Alp Toker, director of NetBlocks.
According to the group, the disruption resembled the internet shutdown imposed during the 2021 presidential election.
Sassou, who first seized power in 1979, has governed the oil-producing country almost continuously except for a five-year break in the 1990s. In the current contest he is running against six relatively unknown candidates, none considered serious rivals, while electoral institutions are largely aligned with the ruling Congolese Labour Party.
Remadji Hoinathy of the Institute for Security Studies said the opposition remained fragmented and lacked a strong national figure capable of mounting a credible challenge.
“The opposition is fragmented and lacks a strong, emblematic figure,” he said, adding that even if voters were fatigued, it was unlikely to affect Sassou’s chances.
Human rights groups have also warned that political space in the country has narrowed in recent years, citing the arrest of activists and suspension of some political parties.
Although the economy heavily dependent on oil has stabilised after a prolonged downturn, poverty remains widespread. According to the World Bank, about 52 per cent of the country’s 6.1 million people live below the poverty line.
Some voters who turned out in Brazzaville said they hoped whoever wins would address unemployment and economic hardship.
“Our children are here with their diplomas but they’re not doing anything,” said resident Gigi Wandiabantou. “Whoever will be in charge, I’m really counting on them to help us mothers so we can receive something.”
Others expressed little optimism about change.
“It’s an election whose outcome is known in advance,” said Frédéric Nkou, an unemployed resident of the capital. “I don’t expect things to improve.”
Ahead of the vote, Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso rejected allegations of bias in favour of the incumbent, insisting the country’s electoral institutions would ensure a transparent and fair process.
During his campaign, Sassou promised continuity in governance, pledging to accelerate development projects and expand access to education and professional training.
