Congo's Sassou to seek third term in March election

The ruling party in Congo has endorsed President Denis Sassou Nguesso as its flag bearer in the upcoming presidential election in March.

“The Central Committee of the Congolese labour party has validated the candidacy of Comrade Denis Sassou Nguesso as party candidate in the presidential election of March 20, 2016,“said a statement released by party officials.

The country’s new constitution which was adopted in November, allows Nguesso to run for a third term .

Violence broke out during the referendum which was boycotted by the opposition in the central African nation.

Before the changes, the constitution had stipulated a maximum age of 70 for presidential candidates and a limit on the number of terms to two.

71 year old Nguesso has ruled the oil rich nation for almost 32 years and is widely expected to win the election.

The presidential election had been scheduled for July this year but in December, the government said it would bring forward the date to March.