Putin congratulates Congo’s Nguesso on fifth term election victory

Russian President Vladimir Putin has become the first foreign leader to congratulate Denis Sassou Nguesso on his re-election as president of the Republic of Congo, the Russian embassy in Congo announced Thursday.

In a telegram addressed to Nguesso, Putin said he was convinced that the new term “will strengthen the bonds of friendship between our two countries and give fresh impetus to our mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation.”

The Congolese Constitutional Court validated Nguesso’s victory in the March 15 presidential election, certifying that he received 94.9% of the vote. Official figures put voter turnout at 84.65%, securing the incumbent president a fifth term in office.

However, the election was marked by allegations of unfair electoral processes. Major opposition parties boycotted the vote, and civil rights activists were arrested in the lead-up to the poll.

Despite those concerns, the African Union Observer Mission described the election as reflecting “political maturity” and validated electoral indicators as “free, fair, and credible.