Congo President Sassou Nguesso wins re-election

Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso has extended his 32 years in power, winning presidential elections in the first round with 60 percent of the vote, the interior minister said. Raymond Zephyrin Mboulou, the interior minister, announced the results on Thursday after a tense weekend poll held under a communications blackout. The official count gave Guy […]

Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso has extended his 32 years in power, winning presidential elections in the first round with 60 percent of the vote, the interior minister said.
Raymond Zephyrin Mboulou, the interior minister, announced the results on Thursday after a tense weekend poll held under a communications blackout.
The official count gave Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas 15 percent of the vote and General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko came third with a little less than 14 percent.
On Wednesday, the two opposition candidates rejected partial results released by the Republic of Congo’s electoral commission, which gave the country’s long-time ruler 67 percent of votes.
Sassou Nguesso came to power in 1979 and governed the Congo Republic until 1992, when he lost an election. He regained power in 1997 after a civil war and then won elections in 2002 and 2009 amid allegations of fraud.
The constitution was changed by referendum last year, lifting term and age limits that would have excluded him from running again.