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Provisional results from Congo’s March 15, 2026 presidential election placed incumbent Denis Sassou Nguesso as leading in the polls, with a decisive first round victory.
Reports claim Dennis secured 94.82% of the votes cast nationwide.
The official total results published by the Minister of Interior, Raymond Zephirin Mboulou through Télé Congo, confirmed Dennis has been re-elected for another five year term. This will stand until the validation by the Constitutional Court of the country.
According to the details of the exercise, the election recorded very high turnout and was considered peaceful.
This details follows the official data provided by the Ministry of Interior. The ministry said national turnout reached 84.65%, with 2,681,587 voters out of 3,167,909 registered and participated in the ballots. Of the numbers, 2,644,013 votes were counted as valid votes while 37,574 ballots were invalid.
International observers and domestic monitoring bodies described the election peaceful, calm and orderly, with no evidence of electoral infractions that could possibly overturn the overall outcome of the election.
During a press conference organized on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, a former Ghanaian President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who led the AU observer mission to Congo, hailed the exercise, saying it was peacefully conducted.
According to him, “The mission is pleased with the calm and secure atmosphere that prevailed throughout the ballot, which took place in an environment of order, peace, and transparency. 13 out of the 15 departments were covered by observers. The mission expresses its full gratitude to the competent authorities and to the population of the Republic of Congo for the political maturity demonstrated in the electoral process.”
The official tally also revealed a landslide victory across all departments.
According to the official tally from the Ministry of the Interior, Sassou Nguesso’s dominance showed in almost all Congo’s departments, as he obtained above 80% of the votes in almost all zones and above 95% in many regions.
The strongest support for the incumbent was from the interior department where votes soared close to or above 99%, particularly in Likouala, Cuvette, and Plateaux.
His figure went above 89% even in more urbanized and local areas like Brazzaville and PointeNoire.
Meanwhile, the six opposition candidates collectively obtained relatively 5.2% of the total votes, with the bestplaced challenger, MavoungouZinga Mabio, securing nothing above 1.48%.
Other party candidates, including Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou, Uphrem Dave Mafoula, Destin Gavet, Manangou Vivien Romain, and Nganguia Engambe Anguios, secured less than 1% each across the country.
Observers say the outcome shows the oppositions were fragmented and the victory revealed the true will of the Congo people.
Observers say the outcome was in line with the pre-election atmosphere, where surveys and political analysts had predicted a landslide victory for Nguesso.
Analysts say his re-election provides a legal framework for him to strengthen Congo’s national and foreign policy stances, ensuring a development-centric leadership.
Recall that on the election day, the president emphasized that he would continue with his foreign policy, particularly his partnership with the Russian Federation and to ensure stability in his remaining term in office.
Observers, have, however, said that the election did not come without some challenges and controversies.
It was observed that several polling stations reported delays in commencing voting as voters encountered logistics challenge. This was due to late arrival of voters cards.
There was also an issue associated with a nationwide internet blackout during the vote. The development was largely criticized.
The Interior Ministry’s provisional results will be formalized by the Constitutional Court, which is expected to confirm the results within the specific legal time.
Once the results are confirmed by the court, he will be sworn in to continue as president. Sassou Nguesso is projected to be heading to his final constitutional term.
Congo’s president, Nguesso emerges winner with over 94% votes in provisional results
