Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected president of the Republic of the Congo with 88.57 percent of the vote, according to provisional results.
The 77-year-old has been in power for an accumulated 36 years, first taking the helm in 1979 and then again in 1997 after losing the country’s first multi-party elections in 1992.
His victory has been announced today by the interior minister citing figures from the electoral commission, was widely expected after a March 20 ballot boycotted by the main opposition.
The election was also overshadowed by the death from COVID-19 of his only major rival, Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas, who secured 7.84 percent of the vote.
