Young people expect little change as Republic of Congo heads to presidential election

Voters will be heading to the polls to vote for a president in the Republic of Congo on Sunday but the outcome seems to be a foregone conclusion as the country's longtime leader Dennis Sassou N'Guesso faces little opposition in the political arena

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo -- Voters in the Republic of Congo will be heading to the polls in a presidential election this weekend, with the outcome of the vote all but a foregone conclusion as the country’s longtime leader faces little opposition in the political arena.

Many young people say they see no reason to participate in the election that the incumbent, President Dennis Sassou N’Guesso, is certain to win. The six opposition candidates have not mounted a significant challenge to the man who has ruled the oil-rich Central African country of 5.61 million people for a total of 42 years.

The 82-year-old Sassou N’Guesso first came to power in 1979, and served until the 1992 election when he finished third. He then took hold of the country again as a militia leader after a four-month civil war in 1997, and has been at the helm ever since, winning four elections against a fragmented opposition.

He is the third longest ruling African leader, after Cameroon ’s Paul Biya and Equatorial Guinea ’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. A 2015 referendum removed presidential age limits and term limits, allowing Sassou N’Guesso to remain eligible for office.

Among the country's young people, there seems to be little hope for any change and many plan to sit out the vote on Sunday.