Congo: Opposition picks Tsaty-Mabiala as presidential candidate

The main opposition party in the Republic of Congo, the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS), has chosen its first secretary, Pascal Tsaty-Mabiala, as the party’s flag-bearer.

Tsaty-Mabiala would contest against President Denis Sassou Nguessou in the March 20th general election.

“The national council has decided that UPADS will participate in the forthcoming presidential elections and that Mr Mabiala will be our coalitions’ candidate,” the party said in a statement.

Expressing gratitude to the 300 members of the national council for endorsing him, Mabiala said he will focus on unity.

“We would focus on national unity through values of solidarity and social justice; fight against poverty; protection of all Congolese people, and fight against all forms of injustice and nepotism,” Mabiala said

Tsaty-Mabiala,66, once served as defense minister in the government of deposed president Pascal Lissouba.

He is the fourth person to declare his candidature against President Denis Sassou Nguesso in the March elections.

Others include Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou (independent), Anguios Nganguia Engambe of Action Party for the Republic and Andre Okombi Salissa of Convention for Action, Democracy and Development.

The leading opposition party boycotted the 2002 and 2009 presidential elections.