Voters in the Republic of the Congo cast ballots on Sunday in a presidential election widely expected to extend the decades-long rule of Denis Sassou Nguesso, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, though turnout appeared low amid widespread expectations that the outcome is largely predetermined.
More than 3.2 million voters were registered for the poll, although analysts and civil society groups predicted turnout would fall below the nearly 68% recorded in 2021, when Sassou secured another five-year term with 88.4% of the vote.
At polling stations in the capital, Brazzaville, lines were short or nonexistent, according to a reporter’s witness. After casting his ballot, Sassou said he hoped the enthusiasm he claimed to have seen during the campaign would be reflected in the final turnout figures.
“We remain hopeful that what I heard throughout the campaign will materialise today,” he told reporters.
Voting was scheduled to end at 6 p.m. local time, with counting to begin immediately afterwards. Provisional results are expected within 48 to 72 hours. According to reporters, there was a nationwide internet blackout on Sunday, making it difficult to track events across the country during the vote.
“We confirm that a nation-scale internet blackout is now in effect in the Republic of Congo, a measure likely to limit transparency during today’s election,” said NetBlocks director Alp Toker.
According to the group, connectivity dropped to around 3% of normal levels, similar to an outage recorded during the 2021 presidential election. Officials, including Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso and Communications Minister Thierry Moungalla, did not respond to requests for comment about the disruption.
Ahead of the vote, Prime Minister Makosso rejected accusations that the election was biased in favour of the incumbent, insisting that oversight bodies would ensure a transparent and fair process.
Sassou Nguesso has campaigned on a platform of continuity, pledging to accelerate development projects and expand access to education and vocational training.