Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou Nguesso wins election with 95% of the vote

Congo-Brazzaville's incumbent president, Denis Sassou Nguesso, has been re-elected with nearly 95% of the vote, according to provisional results published on Tuesday.

Sunday's election in the oil-rich Central African country extends Sassou Nguesso's four decades in power for another five years.

Sassou Nguesso won a fifth term with "94.8 percent" of the vote, Interior Minister Raymond Zephyrin Mboulou said.

Turnout, which was predicted to drop to a record low, was "84.65 percent", he said.

Constitutional court must validate results

The provisional results still have to be validated by the constitutional court.

Six candidates stood against Sassou Nguesso but the main opposition was divided and largely absent.

During his election campaign, the president, 82, underlined his economic record, having pushed to modernise the country's infrastructure and develop the gas and agriculture sectors in a bid to make the country self-sufficient.

Oil and gas provide most of the state revenue, driving growth that is estimated to be 2.9% for 2025.

President says he won't run after 2031

Congo-Brazzaville's constitution forbids Sassou Nguesso from running again in 2031, raising the question of a possible handover.

He told AFP he would not remain "in power forever" and that the young generation would get its turn. But he would not name anyone in particular as a possible successor.

Sassou Nguesso, a former paratrooper colonel, first led Congo-Brazzaville under a one-party system from 1979 to 1992 before losing the first multi-party elections, whose winner was overthrown in a civil war in 1997.

He was re-elected in 2002, 2009, 2016 and 2021.