Congo-Brazzaville’s interim leader Denis Sassou-Nguesso has won the presidential election with 88.57% of the vote, consistent with preliminary results from the electoral commission.
The 77-year-old leader has been in power for a complete 36 years. The preliminary results showed he’s well before his main rival Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas, who died from coronavirus on Sunday.
Kolelas lost with 7.84% of the vote, according to the results which can be appealed to the Constitutional Court. Voter participation was at 67.55%. One of the world’s longest-serving rulers, Sassou Nguesso was the frontrunner in an election boycotted by most of the opposition and under an online blackout. He has long been accused by critics because of his iron-fisted rule and closing eyes to corruption, poverty and inequality despite having abundant oil wealth.
Data source: Electoral commission (Republic of congo)