Republic of the Congo presidential election, 2002
Encyclopedia
A presidential election was held in the Republic of the Congo
on 10 March 2002. This followed a civil war in 1997, which returned Denis Sassou Nguesso
to power, and a subsequent transitional period, in which a new constitution was written and approved by referendum in January 2002.
The election lacked meaningful opposition participation, as the main opposition leaders—particularly former President Pascal Lissouba
of the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy
(UPADS) and former Prime Minister Bernard Kolélas
of the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development
(MCDDI)—were in exile, prevented from returning to Congo by in absentia legal convictions and sentences. The only important opposition figure left to contest the election was former Prime Minister André Milongo
of the Union for Democracy and the Republic (UDR), but he withdrew a few days before the election, claiming that it would be fraudulent.
Sassou Nguesso, standing as the candidate of his own Congolese Labour Party (PCT) and a coalition, the United Democratic Forces
(FDU), was overwhelmingly elected, receiving nearly 90% of the vote against a field of minor challengers. He was sworn in on 14 August 2002 in a ceremony at the Palace of Congress in Brazzaville
in the presence of seven other African heads of state.
Provisional results were announced by the Minister of the Interior, Pierre Oba
, on 13 March; final results, which were only slightly different from the provisional results, were proclaimed by the Supreme Court on 29 March. There were 1,733,943 registered voters at the time of the election, 1,295,319 of whom voted. 92,706 votes were invalid, leaving 1,202,611 valid votes. 1,075,247 of those votes went to Sassou Nguesso.
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
on 10 March 2002. This followed a civil war in 1997, which returned Denis Sassou Nguesso
Denis Sassou Nguesso
Denis Sassou Nguesso is a Congolese politician who has been the President of Congo-Brazzaville since 1997; he was previously President from 1979 to 1992. During his first period as President, he headed the single-party regime of the Congolese Labour Party for 12 years...
to power, and a subsequent transitional period, in which a new constitution was written and approved by referendum in January 2002.
The election lacked meaningful opposition participation, as the main opposition leaders—particularly former President Pascal Lissouba
Pascal Lissouba
Pascal Lissouba was the first democratically elected President of the Republic of the Congo from August 31, 1992 to October 15, 1997. He was overthrown by the current President Denis Sassou Nguesso in the 1997 civil war....
of the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy
Pan-African Union for Social Democracy
The Pan-African Union for Social Democracy is a political party in the Republic of the Congo, led by former president Pascal Lissouba....
(UPADS) and former Prime Minister Bernard Kolélas
Bernard Kolélas
Bernard Bakana Kolélas was a Congolese politician and President of the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development...
of the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development
Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development
The Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development is a political party in the Republic of the Congo, led by Bernard Kolélas....
(MCDDI)—were in exile, prevented from returning to Congo by in absentia legal convictions and sentences. The only important opposition figure left to contest the election was former Prime Minister André Milongo
André Milongo
André Ntsatouabantou Milongo was a Congolese politician who served as Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo from June 1991 to August 1992. He was chosen by the 1991 National Conference to lead the country during its transition to multiparty elections, which were held in 1992...
of the Union for Democracy and the Republic (UDR), but he withdrew a few days before the election, claiming that it would be fraudulent.
Sassou Nguesso, standing as the candidate of his own Congolese Labour Party (PCT) and a coalition, the United Democratic Forces
United Democratic Forces (Congo)
The United Democratic Forces was an alliance of political parties in the Republic of the Congo, led by Denis Sassou-Nguesso. Sassou-Nguesso, presidential candidate of both the Congolese Labour Party and the FDU, won the presidential election of 10 March 2002 with 89.4% of the vote...
(FDU), was overwhelmingly elected, receiving nearly 90% of the vote against a field of minor challengers. He was sworn in on 14 August 2002 in a ceremony at the Palace of Congress in Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
in the presence of seven other African heads of state.
Provisional results were announced by the Minister of the Interior, Pierre Oba
Pierre Oba
Pierre Oba is a Congolese politician. He has served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville since 1997 and is currently Minister of Mines and Geology. He is also a Général de Brigade of the National Police....
, on 13 March; final results, which were only slightly different from the provisional results, were proclaimed by the Supreme Court on 29 March. There were 1,733,943 registered voters at the time of the election, 1,295,319 of whom voted. 92,706 votes were invalid, leaving 1,202,611 valid votes. 1,075,247 of those votes went to Sassou Nguesso.