Presidential elections were held in the Republic of the Congo on 20 March 2016."Congo to hold early presidential elections in March" , New Vision, 31 December 2015. It was the first election to be held under the new constitution that had been passed by referendum in 2015. President Denis Sassou Nguesso, who had exhausted the two-term limit imposed by the previous constitution, was allowed to run again due to the adoption of the new constitution. He won re-election in the first round of voting, receiving 60% of the vote.

Electoral system The President of the Republic of the Congo is elected using the two-round system.Republic of the Congo IFES

On 14 January 2016 a law was adopted creating a new electoral commission, the Independent National Election Commission (Commission nationale électorale indépendante, CNEI), replacing the National Commission for the Organisation of Elections (Commission nationale d’organisation des élections, CONEL). The law was the result of dialogue between government and opposition parties."Congo : une nouvelle commission électorale adoptée par l’Assemblée nationale", Le Monde, 15 January 2016 . The CNEI is composed of members of both government and opposition parties, as well as civil society,"Congo: la nouvelle loi électorale adoptée par l'Assemblée nationale", RTBF, 14 January 2016 . and unlike the CONEL it is set up to be independent and financially autonomous."Congo : Une loi électorale adaptée pour des élections apaisées", Les Echoes, January 2016

Ballot papers also changed in line with demands by the opposition, moving to a single ballot paper."Congo-Brazzaville : la gouvernance électorale en constante amélioration", Relief Web, 28 January 2016 . While parties were already entitled to have representatives at all polling stations, their agreement in certifying the vote count is now mandatory.2001 Congolese electoral law (no. 9-2001), modified in 2007, 2012, 2014 and 2016. These changes have been noted by the opposition, which has welcomed progress made."Congo – Présidentielle : la date du dépôt des candidatures fixée du 5 au 20 février" , AFC .

All adults over the age of 18 can vote and the CNEI's mission also includes voter registration. A campaign was launched to encourage more citizens to register to vote, beginning in January 2016 and ending on 15 February."Congo : la révision des listes se poursuit avant la présidentielle du 20 mars", Africa News, 1 February 2016 .

A decree issued by the Minister of the Interior on 1 February 2016 scheduled the official campaign period to run from 4 March to midnight on 18 March 2016. The period for the submission of applications to stand as presidential candidates was set to run from 5 February to 20 February. Among the information and documentation required for the applications was a medical certificate, and prospective candidates were required to pay a deposit of 25,000,000 CFA francs, which could not be refunded.Thierry Noungou, "Présidentielle du 20 mars : le dépôt des candidatures s’ouvre le 5 février", ADIAC, 1 February 2016 .

Candidates A new constitution passed by referendum in 2015 enabled term-limited President Denis Sassou Nguesso to run for re-election. As expected, the ruling Congolese Labour Party (PCT) announced on 25 January 2016 that Sassou Nguesso would be the party's presidential candidate."Congo's Sassou Nguesso to seek third term in March vote", Agence France-Presse, 25 January 2016. Aside from the PCT, various other parties pledged to support Sassou Nguesso, including the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI), the Action and Renewal Movement (MAR), Citizen Rally (RC), the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), the Rally for Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS),Roger Ngombé, "Election présidentielle : Le RDPS promet de soutenir la candidature de Denis Sassou N’Guesso ", ADIAC, 8 February 2016 . the Republican Dynamic for Development (DRD),Josiane Mambou Loukoula, "Vie des partis : Le PCT et la DRD formalisent leur relation ", ADIAC, 16 February 2016 . and the Club 2002–Party for the Unity of the Republic.Parfait Wilfried Douniama, "Election présidentielle: le Club 2002 PUR en rang de bataille pour la victoire de Denis Sassou N’Guesso", ADIAC, 22 February 2016 .

In late January 2016, the main opposition party, the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS), designated its leader, Pascal Tsaty Mabiala, as its presidential candidate.Jean Jacques Koubemba, "Election présidentielle : L’U.PA.D.S jette son dévolu sur Pascal Tsaty-Mabiala", ADIAC, 31 January 2016 .

André Okombi Salissa, the President of the Initiative for Democracy in Congo, announced on 30 January 2016 that he planned to stand as a presidential candidate.Jean Jacques Koubemba, "Election présidentielle : André Okombi- Salissa annonce sa candidature", ADIAC, 30 January 2016 . Okombi Salissa was a long-time member of the PCT and minister in Sassou Nguesso's government, but he increasingly became a critical and dissenting voice within the PCT after his dismissal from the government in 2012."Congo-Brazzaville: le dialogue national s'ouvre sans l'opposition", Radio France Internationale, 13 July 2015 .

General Jean-Marie Mokoko, the Special Representative of the African Union Commission in the Central African Republic, stated on 8 February 2016 that he planned to stand as a presidential candidate. Mokoko headed the military from 1987 to 1993, and he was Adviser to the President for Peace and Security from 2005 until resigning on 3 February 2016."Congolese ex-army chief to run for president", Agence France-Presse, 8 February 2016. In the days after Mokoko announced his candidacy, a video from the early 2000s that indicated his involvement in a coup plot surfaced on the Internet. Mokoko said that the video was faked. On 19 February, orders were issued for Mokoko's arrest, and police reportedly blocked the roads near his home."Congo orders arrest of key candidate in presidential race", Agence France-Presse, 19 February 2016. He was questioned and then released on 21 February."Congo presidential candidate released after questioning", Agence France-Presse, 21 February 2016.

On 22 February 2016, 10 prospective presidential candidacies were submitted to the Constitutional Court for approval: Denis Sassou Nguesso, Anguios Nganguia-Engambé, Pascal Tsaty Mabiala, Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko, André Okombi Salissa, Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas, Claudine Munari, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou, Joseph Mboussi Ngouari, and Louis Parfait Tchignamba Mavoungou.Roger Ngombé, "Election présidentielle : la Cour constitutionnelle reçoit officiellement dix dossiers de candidature", ADIAC, 22 February 2016 . The Constitutional Court announced on 24 February that nine of the candidates were cleared to run. One minor candidate, Tchignamba Mavoungou, was barred from running for failing to pay the necessary amount as a deposit.Roger Ngombé, "Election présidentielle : Neuf candidatures retenues par la Cour constitutionnelle", ADIAC, 24 February 2016 .

Campaign The official campaign period began on 4 March. Sassou Nguesso, campaigning in Pointe-Noire, discussed his economic development plans and vowed to win the vote with a majority in the first round."Congo’s Sassou Nguesso assures of first round win in presidential poll", Africanews, 6 March 2016. Meanwhile, Mokoko called for the vote to be delayed, complaining that the electoral register was inadequate and that the electoral commission was not truly independent."Congo: Leading opposition candidate wants March 20 polls postponed", Africanews, 4 March 2016.

While campaigning, Sassou Nguesso stressed that as President, he had maintained peace and facilitated economic growth and the building of infrastructure. Calling on the people to give him a first round majority, he promised more jobs and continued improvements to infrastructure. The opposition candidates focused on raising doubts about the credibility of the electoral commission and claiming that the government was preparing to rig the election.Aaron Ross and Christian Elion, "Congo's Sassou Nguesso seeks first round knock-out in election", Reuters, 18 March 2016.

Conduct The government invited foreign observers to monitor the elections. Observers are governed under a 2007 decree that sets out rules around election observation, which states that foreign and domestic observers – who can represent either international organisations or NGOs – have the complete and unfettered right to travel anywhere in the country, to communicate freely with all parties and social groupings, access voter registers, access polling stations and observe the behaviour of officials and representatives of candidates at polling stations. Observers from abroad are accredited by the Foreign Ministry.15 June 2007 Congolese decree (no. 2007-309) on national and international election observers Previous election observation missions include those carried out by the African Union,Preliminary statement of the international observer mission of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) on parliamentary elections held on 15 July 2012 in the Republic of Congo African Union Mission to Congo the FrancophonieRapport de la Mission d’information et de contacts de la Francophonie Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and European Commission.EU election observation mission to Congo in 2002 European Union

On election day the authorities banned the use of motor vehicles, and also cut internet and cell phone service.

Results The first round was held on 20 March 2016. Casting his vote in Brazzaville, Sassou Nguesso said that the election "marks progress for our democracy. And I can say that the new republic is setting out under a good omen".Aaron Ross, "Protest, tear gas in Congo as Sassou Nguesso seeks to extend rule", Reuters, 20 March 2016.

Partial results, accounting for 72 out of 111 districts, were announced by the electoral commission on 22 March, showing Sassou Nguesso far ahead of his rivals with 67% of the vote. Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas, in second place, was credited with 16.8%. The opposition said that these results were "totally detached from the reality on the ground", vowing to go forward with plans to release a different set of results, which it had collected and claimed was more accurate. As the electoral commission was the only body authorized to release election results, the government continued blocking Internet and telephone communications in order to prevent the release of unauthorized results that it said could cause instability. Supporters of Sassou Nguesso in northern Brazzaville celebrated the President's apparent victory, while security forces were out to prevent any disturbances from opposition supporters in southern Brazzaville.Roch Bouka, "Congo president set for re-election, early results show", Reuters, 22 March 2016.

Minister of the Interior Raymond Mboulou announced the full results in the early hours of 24 March. These results showed Sassou Nguesso winning re-election with 60% of the vote, while opposition candidates Kolelas and Mokoko trailed distantly with 15% and 14% of the vote respectively."Congo president Sassou Nguesso reelected in first round: official", Agence France-Presse, 24 March 2016. Communications were then restored. The opposition refused to accept the results, claiming that they were fraudulent.Christian Elion, "Congo's Sassou Nguesso wins re-election, opposition vows protests", Reuters, 24 March 2016. Meanwhile, Sassou Nguesso declared that the outcome represented "the real will of the people" and vowed that he would "always be at the side of the people"."Republic of Congo's longtime leader hails his re-election", Associated Press, 24 March 2016.

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