Political campaigns for presidential election end in Congo

Presidential election campaigns ended this Friday in the Republic of Congo and on Sunday voters will have to choose among the seven candidates, one who will lead Congo, the central African state for the next 5 years.

On the ballot is, outgoing president Denis Sassou Nguesso, 77 years old, running for a 4th term, with his social project, called "together let's continue the march towards development".

His top rival opponents include Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas and Mathias Dzon.

At 62, Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas, an economist and candidate of the Union of Humanist Democrats (UDH-Yuki), intends to change the daily life of the Congolese people with his "Perfect Plan for the recovery of Congo" focused on the development of the provinces.

Mathias Dzon, 74, a former Minister of Finance and candidate of the Alliance for the Republic and Democracy, promises to redress public accounts and promote agriculture.

There are other candidates in the presidential race- Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou, Anguios Nganguia Engambé, Dave Uphrem Mafoula and Albert Ognangué.

But in this electoral battle, the discourse is almost the same.- change, decentralisation, economic diversification.

We took the views of some Congolese on the streets of Pointe Noire.

Male voter

"The other candidates we do not see their projects. But President Denis Sassou Nguesso has convincing plans. "

Female voter

"They talk all the time, but they all say the same thing, what we want is to work.

Male voter

"Albert Ognangué wants those who govern us to assume their responsibilities.

Africanews journalist- Cédric Lyonnel SEHOSSOLO reports that more than 2.5 million voters are expected to go to the polls this Sunday to elect the next president of the nation.

But what worries the Congolese most today is the peace and serenity they hope to see during the election as memories of post-election conflicts are still present in people's minds.