Denis Sassou N’Guesso Sworn In for New Term, Extending 42-Year Rule in Republic of Congo
Denis Sassou N’Guesso was officially sworn in for a new five-year term as President of the Republic of Congo during a ceremony held in Kintélé, north of the capital Brazzaville. This inauguration marks the continuation of his 42-year rule over the oil-rich Central African nation. Sassou N’Guesso secured re-election in March with an overwhelming 94.8% of the vote, defeating six relatively unknown opponents. In his inaugural address, he pledged not to betray the citizens who mobilized to support him. Despite the political victory, the country faces significant economic challenges, including a sky-high debt-to-GDP ratio and rising youth unemployment, according to World Bank data. Sassou N’Guesso is currently the third-longest ruling leader in Africa, following Cameroon’s Paul Biya and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. His ability to remain in power was facilitated by a 2015 referendum that abolished presidential age and term limits, allowing him to extend his decades-long tenure despite growing economic pressures and demographic challenges within the nation.
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Denis Sassou N’Guesso Sworn In for New Term, Extending 42-Year Rule in Republic of Congo
Denis Sassou N’Guesso was officially sworn in for a new five-year term as President of the Republic of Congo during a ceremony held in Kintélé, north of the capital Brazzaville. This inauguration marks the continuation of his 42-year rule over the oil-rich Central African nation. Sassou N’Guesso secured re-election in March with an overwhelming 94.8% of the vote, defeating six relatively unknown opponents. In his inaugural address, he pledged not to betray the citizens who mobilized to support him. Despite the political victory, the country faces significant economic challenges, including a sky-high debt-to-GDP ratio and rising youth unemployment, according to World Bank data. Sassou N’Guesso is currently the third-longest ruling leader in Africa, following Cameroon’s Paul Biya and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. His ability to remain in power was facilitated by a 2015 referendum that abolished presidential age and term limits, allowing him to extend his decades-long tenure despite growing economic pressures and demographic challenges within the nation.
AP News