Campaigning is under way in the Republic of Congo ahead of the March 15 presidential election, with incumbent Denis Sassou Nguesso seeking to extend a rule that has spanned more than four decades. Sassou Nguesso, who has led the country for most of the period since 1979, was the first of seven candidates to formally launch his campaign. He drew large crowds at a rally in Pointe-Noire, the nation’s economic hub and centre of its oil industry. Supporters hailed his experience and promises of economic diversification, infrastructure expansion and job creation.
However, scepticism remains widespread about the competitiveness of the race. The president’s party, the Congolese Party of Labour (PCT), dominates parliament and local government structures, reinforcing perceptions that the ruling camp holds a structural advantage. Civil society groups have repeatedly raised concerns over electoral governance. Since 2015, Tournons la Page Congo, a coalition of 14 non-governmental organisations, has reported alleged irregularities in past elections and called for reforms to ensure transparency, equal media access and independent oversight.
Christian Mounzéo, the coalition’s coordinator, said key recommendations aimed at improving fairness have yet to be fully implemented. He warned that elections must be conducted under clear and transparent conditions to strengthen public trust. Ruling party officials reject such criticism. Jean François Kando, a senior PCT figure in Pointe-Noire, defended the administration’s record, noting that presidential elections are held every five years in accordance with the constitution. Political analysts say voter turnout will be closely watched. High participation would help bolster the legitimacy of the outcome, particularly in a political climate where opposition parties face organisational and financial constraints. As campaigning intensifies, the vote is shaping up as both a test of Sassou Nguesso’s enduring grip on power and of public confidence in Congo’s electoral process.
