Congolese president wins third term after 32 years in office, opposition cries foul | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Friday 25 March 2016

Congolese president wins third term after 32 years in office, opposition cries foul

Congo president Denis Sassou Nguesso was on Thursday declared the winner of presidential elections, extending his 32 years in power in a vote the opposition says was marked by "massive fraud".

 
Interior Minister Raymond Zephyrin Mboulou announced the results at 3:30am (0230 GMT) on national television, saying Sassou Nguesso had secured 60 percent of the vote in the tense weekend poll held under an ongoing communications blackout. Sassou Nguesso has ruled Congo for all but five years since 1979, having lived in Paris in exile from 1992 to 1997.

The official count gave runner-up Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas 15 percent of the vote, while General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko came in third with 14 percent.
Sassou Nguesso hailed the victory at his campaign headquarters, saying the Congolese people had "taken their destiny into their own hands" and adding that the campaign had produced a "very open" democratic debate in the former French colony.
Both of his main rivals had already rejected the partial results released Wednesday, with Kolelas' spokesman Vivien Manangou saying there had been "massive fraud".
Mokoko, who until February was Sassou Nguesso's security advisor, added: "I knew beforehand that the dice were loaded, but we had agreed to play the game."
He called for a recount, saying: "How do you want us to accept such a result?"
With telephones and the Internet cut off, neither candidate was immediately reachable after the official results were announced.
Oil- and timber-rich Congo has been on edge since an October constitutional referendum that ended a two-term limit on presidential mandates, allowing Sassou Nguesso, a 72-year-old former paratrooper colonel, to run for office again.
Critics accuse him of rampant corruption and nepotism, blasting the referendum result as a "constitutional coup".
Authorities imposed a communications blackout during the election to prevent opposition candidates from publishing "illegal results". A government source said they blackout would remain in place until after the official results.

Most shops in the south of the capital Brazzaville, an opposition stronghold, had stayed shut on Wednesday amid fears of unrest.
Kolelas' spokesman Manangou said security forces had stormed the candidate's campaign offices on Tuesday, hurling tear gas cannisters and causing a stampede that left one person dead.
A French journalist was present but was unable to confirm the death.
Mokoko and Kolelas, along with the three other opposition candidates, have urged people to "exercise their sovereignty" in the event of a Sassou Nguesso victory.
They created their own parallel "technical commission" to monitor the vote and compile information from polling stations to compare it to the official results.
They said they could say "with certainty" that the opposition had beat Sassou Nguesso in the first round and that a second-round election should be held.
The European Union refused to send election observers to monitor the polls, saying conditions had not been met for a transparent and democratic vote.
The international community has since expressed concern over the fairness of the vote and called for the opposing sides to resolve their differences calmly.
"This vote took place in a worrying context, particularly due to the cut in communications," said France's foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal.



Source: AFP

38 comments:

Unknown said...

He will be buried there since Na him mama get presidency. Ndi ara!!.. Next!!!

Unknown said...

Hiaa. 32 years? You wan carry the chair enter your grave? Congrats shaa. More Instagram followers for you

Unknown said...

He wants to die there Go On!

Unknown said...

Issit his birthright?
-D great anonymous now as Vivian Reginalds

Unknown said...

Imagine this was in Nigeria... lol. Dem for don off am since! I trust my pipo

gentle said...

Mstchew....anytime I see cases like this..I remember obasanjo...and even buhari who still wants to be president at 74...when you have so much to live for..whats so sweet about the power??

Ohiren Erimiakhena said...

32yrs in power?,African leaders are so power obsessed...as if its their birth right,God is watching!.

Anonymous said...

Africans politicians how can this be possible

Roseberry said...

Nawa o. How many years is a tenure for them?

Unknown said...

He should give up the seat for someone else to rule na, #greed

Unknown said...

Baba rest na..


‭OKORO UPGRADED

Omotosho said...

Congo is now his personal fiefdom. Lord have mercy for the people of Congo. Same way Obj wanted to perpetuate himself in power before he was stopped in his tracks.

Kayode Odusanya said...

He has ruled for 32 years? This man is competing with Mugabe. But why are Afrian leaders like this?



Do You Have Problems Lasting Long in Bed?

Okowright Balaxy said...

Life time president of congo.

Chuks Bruno said...

Aficans and their insatiable taste for power hmm

NaijaDeltaBabe said...

Haba! For wat na? Is he d only one in congo?


...merited happiness

Unknown said...

Haba! Is it his father's birthright??? Linda take note!

Mimiebrown said...

There is God oo

Unknown said...

Hmmmmm, Africa politicians and power...

Anonymous said...

Later some idiots will come here and say good luck no try .

Richard said...

They should call him 👑



#reeshahr

Unknown said...

Hian! Na wa ooo

Unknown said...

These selfish African leaders that think ruling is their birth right.yet no single development or anything worth praising them for!

ndubeans said...

I just pray if we vote out buhari 2019 he shld quietly go n leave office just lyk gej. am xpectin dis from him sha

Unknown said...

Mmmmmmmmmm
It's good friday!

JESUS CHRIST is the KING of ALL JEWS


#spritual

Adaobilinda her sexcellency said...

32 years after Nawaooo. Congratulations to him

Unknown said...

32 years God of Jesus have mercy.

Unknown said...

Asshole

Anonymous said...

What is wrong with us Africa?

Anonymous said...

I didn't want to comment BUT I have too.

90% of all African leaders need to be in old people's home!!

At 72 you want to run politics? Why not step down and enjoy your last days on mother earth in peace. Mugabe is even elder, why do African leaders want to die in office? Let bring this on the table. Africa has got good young talents in politics or am I wrong? Maybe the young ones are busy admiring Kim Kardashian West and Amber rose or are on competition"who has the most extra martial affairs or the most babymama"

Africans simply don't know how to unite, they are easily manipulated, you can see it even on this blog, people failing to apply common sense. True true the problem with common sense it is not that common, now I understand!!

Anonymous said...

I didn't want to comment BUT I have too.

90% of all African leaders need to be in old people's home!!

At 72 you want to run politics? Why not step down and enjoy your last days on mother earth in peace. Mugabe is even elder, why do African leaders want to die in office? Let bring this on the table. Africa has got good young talents in politics or am I wrong? Maybe the young ones are busy admiring Kim Kardashian West and Amber rose or are on competition"who has the most extra martial affairs or the most babymama"

Africans simply don't know how to unite, they are easily manipulated, you can see it even on this blog, people failing to apply common sense. True true the problem with common sense it is not that common, now I understand!!

Anonymous said...

Useless idiot, he will soon die there.

G said...

That's what causes wars in africa. Greedy leaders

Pearlie said...

Am sure if there is no law against this in Nigeria, some of our leaders will do this too

Power intoxicates

Unknown said...

Greedy hungry politicians may be na his birth right that's why Africa will not progress

Unknown said...

His business...since its his. Inheritance let him rock his world....useless man

PrettyChi said...

Africa.... Hehehehe

Anonymous said...

Gorilla mentality.

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