Politics

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President

The current president of the country is Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Congolese Labour Party. In the presidential election on 21 March 2021, he received 88.40 % votes (1,539,725 voters). The turnout in the election was 67.17 % of eligible voters (1,776,786 out of 2,645,283). Other results were as follows: the main opposition candidate Guy Brice Parfait Kolélas of the Union of Humanist Democrats received 7.96 % votes (138,561 voters). There were 1.97 % invalid or blank votes, while the other candidates received a total of 1.70 %.

President Nguesso held office for two terms: the first from 1979 to 1992 and the second from 1997 to the present.

He was born on 23 November 1943 to Julien Nguess (a prominent hunter and chief) and Émilienne Mouebare in the small village of Edou in the Oyo District, Cuvette Department. He belongs to the Mbochi ethnic group. He received his primary education in the town of Owando (then known as Fort Rousset), and his secondary education at the school in Dolisie from 1956 to 1960. He later joined the army, where he received military training in Algeria and in France at Saint-Maixent-l'École.

He was one of the first officers of the elite paratrooper unit, which he later led. Before his first presidential term in 1979, he held the posts of commander of the Brazzaville military zone and head of the intelligence department. He was promoted to colonel and became general in 1989. He began his political career in 1969, when he was elected a member of the Central Committee of the Congolese Party of Labour.

During his first term as president (1979–1992), he developed strong relations with France, obtained loans from the International Monetary Fund, and encouraged foreign investment in the mining and oil industries. In 1989, he began the transformation of the economy from a state-owned to a capitalist one. After losing the 1992 elections and the end of the first civil war, he returned to office on 25 October 1997. However, the second civil war, which lasted another five years, prevented the country from making significant progress.

President Nguesso is also known for his activities in the African Union, where he served as its Chairperson for one term in 2006. He has gained international recognition as a proponent of peaceful solutions in the region. He was one of the main negotiators in the settlement of the conflict in the Central African Republic. His career in politics and the military spans 53 years and includes significant achievements in the peace, stability and continuous development of the country.

Duties of the President

Executive power

The president is responsible for overseeing the implementation and enforcement of laws, the day-to-day administration of the country, and making appropriate decisions in crisis situations.

Participation in the legislative process

The president is also the prime minister, who, together with the parliament, carries out the legislative process, submits bills and votes on their approval.

Appointment of the government and ministers

The president performs a fairly routine duty of appointing individuals to serve as ministers, including the prime minister, but in reality these candidates are selected by the Senate and the National Assembly.

According to recent changes to the constitution of the Republic of Congo, women are not barred from running for president. The president is directly elected by the people, and must receive an absolute majority of the votes, either in the first round or in a second round between the two candidates with the highest number of votes.

Candidates for the position of President must meet the following conditions:

  • They must be of Congolese origin.
  • They must have at least 15 years of experience in their profession.
  • They must be at least 40 years old and no more than 70 years old.
  • They must be of integrity.

The next elections are scheduled for 2026.

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Like President Nguesso, Jean-Claude Gakosso is a member of the Mbochi ethnic group. He was born on July 25, 1957, in the town of Inkouélé, in the Gamboma district, in the Plateaux region. He was educated at the prestigious Sorbonne in France and, before his appointment, served as a lecturer in journalism at the Marien Ngouabi University.

He began his political career between 1997 and 2002, after the end of the first civil war. During that time, he served as special advisor to the president for communications, telecommunications and postal services. On 18 August 2002, he replaced Mambou Aimée Gnali as Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism. During his tenure in this position, he also served as government spokesman and interim Minister of Parliamentary Relations and Communications. In 2007, he was reappointed to this position, albeit with limited responsibilities for culture and the arts, and remained in this position until 25 August 2015, when he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Basile Ikouébé.

The most significant step during his tenure was the reorganization of Congo's diplomatic structures, including the dismissal of 16 ambassadors from their posts. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, he identified the "good neighbor policy" and "development diplomacy" as the pillars of Congo's foreign policy. He also signed various treaties on environmental protection and global climate change, in particular on the protection of the Congo Basin, tropical forests and biodiversity, while promoting Congo's foreign policy agenda towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In addition to his political career, he is also a published author.

Administration

According to the 2015 constitutional reforms, the system of government is semi-presidential, meaning that the president must coexist with the cabinet and the prime minister in the form of a two-headed executive structure, according to the following provisions:

Executive power

The president appoints and chairs the cabinet of ministers, but the members of the council, including the prime minister, are selected by parliament.

Legislation

National Assembly

It is considered the Lower House and is composed of 151 members who serve for five years. They are elected through a two-round system unless they receive 50 % + 1 votes in the first round. The current President of the Assembly is Isidore Mvouba.

Senate

It is the upper house. The 72 senators serve six-year terms and are elected by regional, district and local councils. The current president of the senate is Pierre Ngolo. The current prime minister is Anatole Collinet Makosso.

Local administration

It is made up of municipalities and wards created by statutes. The actual administration is run through elected councils, creating a decentralized form of government that exists through trusteeship status with the central government.

State symbols

Flag

The flag of the Republic of the Congo is made up of three diagonal stripes. The green stripe is on top, followed by the yellow and red stripes on the bottom. The stripes are arranged so that the green stripe starts in the upper left corner, the yellow is in the middle, and the red stripe is in the lower right corner.

State coat of arms

The national coat of arms of the Republic of the Congo depicts a yellow shield flanked by two black elephants. Below the coat of arms is the country's motto: "Unité - Travail - Progrès" (Unity - Work - Progress).

National anthem

The national anthem of the Republic of the Congo is called “La Congolaise.” The lyrics were written after independence and express pride, national unity, and the desire for progress.

State seal

The state seal, which is often used on official documents, depicts a coat of arms and contains symbols similar to the state coat of arms. The seal serves to authenticate state acts.

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Brazzaville, CG

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Local time

18:06:20
June 1, 2026