Gambiaj.com – (BRAZZAVILLE, Congo) – President Denis Sassou-Nguesso has officially announced his candidacy for Congo-Brazzaville’s upcoming presidential election, confirming he will seek another term in office at the age of 82.
The long-serving leader made the announcement on Thursday, February 5, in Bambou Mingali, about 60 kilometers north of the capital Brazzaville, during the launch of the country’s first major agricultural fair.
Addressing farmers, youth, and party supporters, Sassou-Nguesso linked his decision to run to his pledge to strengthen agricultural production and support rural livelihoods.
“I salute agricultural producers, in the broad sense. I salute their courage, their commitment, and their dedication. I salute the youth who are committed,” he said. He added that the current momentum in agricultural production would “flourish and gain scale and strength in the years to come.”
Declaring his intentions more explicitly, the president said he would personally back the agricultural movement and confirmed his bid for re-election ahead of the February 12 deadline for the submission of candidacies. “This is why, also directly, I say that I am going to support this movement… and for this, I am going to apply for the presidential election,” he stated.
Sassou-Nguesso’s candidacy had been widely anticipated. On December 30, the ruling Congolese Labour Party (PCT) unanimously designated him as its candidate, following calls within the party for him to stand for another mandate.
Born in 1943, Denis Sassou-Nguesso has dominated Congolese politics for more than four decades. He first ruled the country from 1979 to 1992 under a single-party system before losing power in Congo’s first multiparty elections to Pascal Lissouba.
He returned to office in 1997 after a civil war and went on to win elections in 2002 and 2009. In 2015, a constitutional amendment removed the two-term presidential limit, allowing him to remain eligible for re-election.
The presidential election, initially scheduled for March 22, has been brought forward and will now take place on March 15.
