REPUBLIC OF CONGO 77 YEARS OLD PRESIDENT SEEK RE ELECTION AFTER 36 YEARS IN OFFICE

The president of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, who is one of the world's longest-serving leaders, will seek a fourth term in elections due next March, the country's ruling coalition said on Thursday. The leader has remain in office for 36yrs and still seek re-election at the age of 77yrs.

 REPUBLIC OF CONGO 77 YEARS OLD PRESIDENT SEEK RE ELECTION AFTER 36 YEARS IN OFFICE
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The president of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, who is one of the world's longest-serving leaders, will seek a fourth term in elections due next March, the country's ruling coalition said on Thursday. The 77-year-old has led the central African country, also called Congo-Brazzaville for a total of 36 years since he first became president in 1979.

His bid to run for the top job comes after nominations by the 17 parties that make up his presidential majority. "The presidential majority believes that of all its leaders, it is President Sassou Nguesso who holds all the trump cards," said Pierre Moussa, acting chairman of the parties in the coalition.

Although, Denis Sassou is yet to announce his candidacy but there's every indications he could make his intention known during a speech to the Nation schedule for December 19. There's also an indication that he could also set the date for the election which is scheduled for March 2021. There was a country staged referendum in 2015 to remove the 70 year age limit and a ban on presidents serving more than two terms in order for the constitution of the country to entertain Denis Sassou excesses.

Subsequently so, the move paved way for Sassou Nguesso to secure a third term in elections in March 2016, which ignites violence that resulted in bloodshed. His political rivals, a former general known as Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and former minister Andre Okombi Salissa, disputed the results of the election, under the claim of an arranged victory.

They were arrested, put on trial and each handed 20 years in jail on charges of undermining state security. Congo is an oil-rich but impoverished country, with all the wealth been monopolized by the corrupt leader. The country presently is in the grip of a deep economic crisis, triggered by the slump in oil prices but worsened by long-standing debt and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The corrupt practices and maladministrstion of the governing system continuously dealt a destructive blow to the ailing economy of the country.

Theres something not really understandable with African leaders and power, they seems to regard remaining in office more than anything as long as they are still alive for a reason well known to them, almost every African leaders have this traits, for a man to have been in office for 36yrs, at the age of 77yrs still vieing for more years in office, when he has already hit a retirement age speaks volumes.