Republic of Congo

Nguesso re-elected

Article published on the 2009-07-16 Latest update 2009-07-17 05:57 TU

Congolese president Denis Sassou Nguesso
(Photo: Offcial site of Republic of Congo)

Incumbent Denis Sassou Nguesso has won another seven years in power in Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), which he has ruled for 25 years. Nguesso won 79 per cent of the votes casts in Sunday’s poll, according to provisional results.

The former military ruler, defeated 12 other candidates. Six of those had called for a boycott of the vote, insisting that it would be rigged, a charge denied by government ministers.

Coming in a distant second place was independent candidate Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou with 7.5 per cent. Former Finance Minister Mathias Dzon, who was thought to be Nguesso’s main rival, took a mere 2.3 per cent.

“We believe there were many irregularities,” former Finance Minister Mathias Dzon told RFI. “So is he a legitimate president? We believe he isn’t.”

 

Small teams of monitors form the African Union and the ten-nation Economic Community of Central African States gave the election of clear bill of health.

However, the non-governmental Congolese Observatory of Human Rights said the poll was marred by “fraud and irregularities.” Some of Nguesso’s opponents argue that only about ten per cent of voters actually cast their ballot.

The Territorial Administration Minister Raymond Mboulou said turnout was 66 per cent.

“It’s obviously that most people stayed at home and did not go to vote,” said Guy-Romain Kinfoussia, one of the five candidates to have called for a boycott of the poll. “I don’t know where Mr Sassou got all these figures from.”

 

The opposition Party for Democratic Alternance tried to stage a protest march after the results were announced but were stopped by the police who said it had not been authorized.

"Everybody says he is going to deploy the army and fire on protestors on the street. He’s already done that, so he can’t do that again. People are tired, so we’re going to lodge a complaint and ask for an annulment of the election," Dzon said.