Sassou Nguesso Sworn In for Fifth Term, Extending 42-Year Rule in Congo

​BRAZZAVILLE — In a ceremony at the Kintele Stadium on Thursday, Denis Sassou Nguesso was sworn in for a new five-year term as President of the Republic of the Congo. The 82-year-old leader, who has dominated the nation’s political landscape for over four decades, secured his position following a landslide victory in the March 15 elections, where he reportedly garnered 94.9% of the vote.

​The inauguration, attended by several African heads of state and international envoys, marks the beginning of Nguesso’s fifth consecutive term since his return to power in 1997. In his inaugural address, the President pledged to prioritize his “Accelerating the March Toward Development” program, focusing on economic diversification, agricultural mechanization, and infrastructure modernization.

​”By reelecting me by a landslide, the people have kept their word,” Nguesso stated during his address. “Now it is up to us to keep ours.”.

​A Legacy of Longevity

​Nguesso’s tenure is one of the longest in modern history. His first stint as leader began in 1979 under the People’s Republic of the Congo, lasting until 1992. After a five-year hiatus and a brief civil war, he returned to the presidency in 1997. His stay in power was further solidified by a 2015 constitutional referendum that abolished presidential age and term limits, paving the way for his continued rule.

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​While the government celebrated the high voter turnout of 84.6%, the election was not without controversy. Major opposition figures boycotted the polls, citing a lack of transparency and an uneven playing field. Critics have described the results as “Soviet-style,” noting that the President’s control over the state apparatus makes any democratic transition structurally difficult.

​Regional Standing

​With this latest inauguration, Sassou Nguesso remains the third longest-serving leader in Africa, trailing only Paul Biya of Cameroon and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea. As he enters this new mandate, the international community remains watchful of his promises to stabilize the economy and address the needs of the country’s youth.