Congo Brazzaville elections in early 2016

Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso on Tuesday announced that “presidential elections will take place in the first quarter of 2016” instead of July of the same year.

Addressing parliament, he said there was the need to implement the new provisions in the amended constitution. The constitution was amended in November to allow President Sassou Nguesso to run for a third consecutive term.

Referendum

Violent protests preceded a referendum in October in which voters overwhelmingly backed the change in constitution. More than 92 per cent voted in favour according to figures from the Electoral Commission. Voter turn out was put at 72 per cent of about 1.8 million voters.

President Denis Sassou Nguesso has ruled the oil-producing country for 31 years. He is expected to run for the presidential elections in 2016.