• Sassou-N'Guesso sworn in for new five-year presidential term
• Won 94.8% vote; opposition contests election transparency
• Pledges reforms amid economic strain, high poverty and unemployment

Denis Sassou-N'Guesso was sworn in Thursday in Kintélé for a new five-year term as president of the Republic of Congo, vowing not to "betray voters' trust" and pledging to tackle the country's main development challenges. In his inaugural address, he said he would be "the president of all Congolese" and called for continued efforts to build the country and accelerate development.

During the campaign, he promoted a program focused on political stability, economic recovery and diversifying an economy still heavily reliant on oil. The plan also prioritizes infrastructure modernization and stronger social cohesion in the country, sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest crude oil producer.

The inauguration followed the Constitutional Council’s validation of his victory in the March 15, 2026 election, in which he secured 94.8% of the vote. The result remains contested, with some opposition groups denouncing a lack of transparency and boycotting the poll.

A dominant figure in Congolese politics, Sassou-N'Guesso first ruled from 1979 to 1992 under a single-party system before losing to Pascal Lissouba in the country’s first multiparty elections. He returned to power in 1997 after a civil war and was elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2009. A 2015 constitutional change removed term limits, allowing him to run again.

The swearing-in comes amid economic strain. World Bank data show growth at 2.6% in 2024, with a projected rise to 2.9% in 2025, while poverty affects about 52% of the population, largely unchanged since 2021. The human capital index stands at 0.42, below the lower-middle-income average of 0.48, and unemployment is around 42%.

Authorities are expected to step up economic and social reforms, particularly on national cohesion and access to essential services.

Ingrid Haffiny