Congo: Ruling PCT party wins legislative elections

Event

According to results released in the early morning hours of Thursday, August 3, the ruling Congolese Labor Party (Parti congolais du travail; PCT) obtained the absolute majority in last month’s legislative elections (first round on July 16 and second round on July 30). Of the total 151 seats at the future Assembly (12 more positions than were on the ballot in 2012), MPs from the ruling party walked away with 90 seats. The Union panafricaine pour la démocratie sociale (UPADS; the leading opposition party) and the Union des démocrates et humanistes (UDH-Yuki; led by second-place finisher in in the 2016 presidential election Guy-Brice Parfait Kolélas), won eight MP seats apiece. Election officials have not released any figures on the election’s participation rate.

Context

This election cycle was characterized by a tense political climate, largely linked to the democratic controversy following the reelection of longtime President Denis Sassou Nguesso in March 2016, as well as accusations of crackdowns on dissent and allegations of human rights violations in the country. Meanwhile, a humanitarian crisis is ongoing in the Pool department amid armed conflict between Congolese forces and the militia group Ninjas Nsiloulou, which erupted shortly after Nguesso's reelection. Six out of the 14 constituencies located in the Pool department were not able to vote due to ongoing serious concerns over security. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) also recently denounced incidents of repression reported in the region surrounding the capital Brazzaville.

Advice

Those present in Congo are advised to keep abreast of the situation, avoid all demonstrations, and refrain from politically sensitive discussions.