Congolese will go to the polls on 15 March 2026 to elect their president, with a fractured opposition unable to present a single candidate. The Congolese Labor Party (PCT), in power since the end of the 1997 civil war, along with its allies, exerts extensive control over the state apparatus and electoral bodies. Citizen participation, particularly among young people aspiring for change, remains crucial for the legitimacy of the vote.
The credibility of the electoral process is also challenged with concerns about opposition access to public media, the reliability of the electoral register, and the impartiality of the Independent National Electoral Commission. Etanislas Ngodi has studied political systems and party dynamics in Congo-Brazzaville. He explains what’s at stake in the presidential election.
