Africa & Middle East · reference
🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo
Presidential republic under long-standing personal rule
SystemPresidential republic under long-standing personal rule
Head of statePresident Denis Sassou Nguesso, in power since 1997 and previously 1979-1992
Head of governmentPrime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso
LegislatureParliament · a 151-seat National Assembly and a Senate
ElectionsElections are held but opposition boycotts, arrests and internet blackouts marked the 2026 vote
Last election2026-03-15 · presidential election, re-electing Sassou Nguesso
Next election2027 · parliamentary election due
Sassou Nguesso, one of the world's longest-serving rulers, extended his tenure in a March 2026 election that major opposition parties boycotted amid arrests of activists and a nationwide internet shutdown. A 2015 constitutional change had already removed the age and term limits that would have barred him. Oil dominates the economy, and debt to China and commodity traders weighs on public finances.
Live encyclopedic leader and election records · verified 2026-07-02
The Margin models elections where a competitive public record exists · all countries