Centrum Stosunków Międzynarodowych - 20 March 2016: Presidential elections in the Republic of Congo

The final results of the presidential elections which were held on 20 March have become clear following publication by the Congolese Electoral Commission on 24 March 2016. Current President Denis Sassou Nguesso has been elected for a third term, winning over 60% of the vote. The third term for the sitting President was made possible by an earlier referendum, during which the people voted in favour of giving the current President the possibility to run for a third term. The elections were criticized for not being transparent and independent.

The election was criticized as there was a media blackout of 5 days for the Internet and telephone networks. The EU decided to refuse sending an observer mission for the elections earlier, because of the lack of independence and transparency. The opposition has criticized the results, as they were supposedly rigged and took place in undemocratic circumstances according to them. The opposition parties subsequently called for protests. The French foreign ministry also criticized the elections that took place in a ''worrying context''.