Veteran leader Denis Sassou-N’Guesso was sworn in for a new five-year term as president of the Republic of Congo on Thursday, pledging to accelerate development and address persistent economic and social challenges in the oil-rich Central African nation.
Speaking at an inauguration ceremony in Kintélé, near the capital Brazzaville, Sassou-N’Guesso vowed not to “betray voters’ trust” and said he would govern as “the president of all Congolese,” calling for unity and renewed efforts to build the country.
The inauguration follows the validation of his victory by the Constitutional Council after the March 15 presidential election, in which he officially secured 94.8 percent of the vote.
However, the result has been contested by opposition groups, who have raised concerns over the transparency of the electoral process and, in some cases, boycotted the poll.
Sassou-N’Guesso, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, has dominated Congolese politics for decades. He first came to power in 1979 under a single-party system before losing to Pascal Lissouba in the country’s first multiparty elections in 1992.
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He returned to power in 1997 following a civil war and has since consolidated his position through successive electoral victories in 2002 and 2009. A constitutional referendum in 2015 removed presidential term limits, allowing him to extend his rule.
In his latest mandate, Sassou-N’Guesso has outlined a programme centred on economic recovery, political stability and diversification of an economy that remains heavily dependent on oil exports.
The Republic of Congo is sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest crude oil producer, but its reliance on hydrocarbons has left it vulnerable to global price fluctuations and limited broader economic development.
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Authorities say the new term will prioritise infrastructure modernisation, job creation and strengthening social cohesion, as the government seeks to address widespread poverty and inequality.
The swearing-in comes at a time of modest economic recovery but persistent structural challenges.
According to World Bank data, economic growth stood at 2.6 percent in 2024 and is projected to rise slightly to 2.9 percent in 2025. Despite this, living conditions for much of the population remain difficult.
Around 52 percent of Congolese live in poverty, a figure that has remained largely unchanged since 2021, highlighting the limited impact of growth on household incomes.
The country’s human capital index stands at 0.42, below the average for lower-middle-income economies, reflecting challenges in education, healthcare and workforce productivity.
Unemployment is estimated at around 42 percent, underscoring the scale of the task facing the government in creating opportunities, particularly for young people.
Analysts say the new administration will need to balance fiscal constraints with the need for increased social and infrastructure spending, while also improving governance and transparency to attract investment.
“The priorities are clear — diversification, jobs and social services — but implementation will be key,” said a regional economist. “The question is whether reforms can translate into tangible improvements for the population.”
Sassou-N’Guesso’s call for national unity also reflects the need to ease political tensions following a contested election, as the government seeks to maintain stability while advancing its development agenda.
For many Congolese, expectations remain high that the new term will deliver concrete progress in living standards, access to services and economic opportunity.
As he embarks on another mandate, the long-serving president faces the challenge of turning policy pledges into measurable outcomes in a country where economic potential has yet to fully translate into broad-based prosperity.
