Denis Sassou-Nguesso, aged 82, was sworn in as President of the Republic of Congo for a fifth term after winning nearly 95% of the vote, amid high national debt and widespread poverty in the country.
On 17 April 2026 GMT+7, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, aged 82, was sworn in as President of the Republic of Congo for a fifth term after securing nearly 95% of the vote. The ceremony was held in Brazzaville with numerous African leaders attending, amid close attention on the political future of this Central African nation.
The 82-year-old leader delivered a speech after his oath, pledging to revive the national economy, accelerate job creation especially for young people, and advance basic infrastructure development nationwide. He stated the government will prioritize agriculture and industry to stimulate the economy and improve citizens’ quality of life.
Official election results showed Sassou-Nguesso winning in the first round with 94.90% of the vote, with over 84% voter turnout. While observers from the African Union praised the election as peaceful and orderly, all six opposition candidates complained of fraud and claimed the actual turnout was lower than reported.
Sassou-Nguesso first came to power in 1979 and ruled until 1992 before returning in 1997 after a four-month civil war, bringing his total time in power to 41 years. Meanwhile, the Republic of Congo faces severe economic challenges: the World Bank reports public debt at 94.5% of GDP, over 5.7 million people—more than half the population—live below the poverty line, and 47% of the population is under 18, highlighting long-term challenges in employment and social welfare.