Elections in Congo-Brazzaville are set to occur on Sunday, with 82-year-old President Denis Sassou Nguesso favored to extend his over forty-year rule in the oil-rich nation. Despite six candidates running against him, the main opposition is fractured and largely inactive, which analysts believe will facilitate Nguesso's victory for another five-year term. As one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, his continued dominance raises concerns about democratic participation in the country.

During the concluding stage of the campaign, which ended on Friday, Nguesso, who has a military background as a former paratrooper colonel, actively engaged with citizens and rallied support from the ruling Congolese Workers' Party (PCT). Observers note that voter turnout may reach historically low levels due to widespread apathy and the public's disillusionment with the political process, questioning the legitimacy and representativeness of this electoral exercise.

If necessary, there will be a second round of voting set for three weeks later, but the timeline for announcing results from the first round remains unclear. The political atmosphere in Congo-Brazzaville reflects broader trends in many African nations, where long-term leaders face little opposition in the face of systemic challenges to democratic governance.