BRAZZAVILLE, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Denis Sassou Nguesso, incumbent president of the Republic of the Congo, has been re-elected with 94.82 percent of the total votes cast in Sunday's election, the Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday.
According to the ministry, a total of 3,167,909 voters were registered, with voter turnout reaching 84.64 percent. Seven candidates contested the election, with Uphrem Dave Mafoula finishing second with about 1.03 percent of the vote.
Under the country's electoral law, the president is chosen through direct voting, with a two-round majority system applied if no candidate secures a clear majority in the first round.
The other candidates included Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou, a member of parliament and leader of "The Chain" party, running for the fifth time since 2002; Anguios Nganguia Engambe, president of the Party for Action of the Republic, competing for the fourth consecutive time since 2009; and Uphrem Dave Mafoula, running for the second consecutive time following the 2021 presidential election.
First-time candidates included Vivien Romain Manangou, a university lecturer; Destin Gavet of the Republican Movement; and Mabio Mavoungou Zinga, a former member of parliament. ■
