Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso has
extended his 32 years in power, winning
presidential elections in the first round with 60
percent of the vote, the interior minister said.
Interior Minister Raymond Zephyrin Mboulou
announced the results on national television at
3.30am local time (02:30 GMT) on Thursday
morning following a tense weekend poll held
under a communications blackout.
The official count gave Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas
15 percent of the vote and General Jean-Marie
Michel Mokoko came in third with a little less
than 14 percent.
On Wednesday, the two opposition candidates
rejected partial results released by the Republic
of Congo's electoral commission, which gave the
country's long-time ruler 67 percent of votes.
Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa, reporting from the
capital Brazzaville, said the president's
supporters started celebrating the result on
Wednesday after the initial results were
announced.
"In areas where the government enjoys support
the streets are busy and there is hardly any
police or army present. They feel keeping
Nguesso in office is good for Congo," she said.
"Opposition leaders, however, say they will not
accept another win for the incumbent. The
government has extended an order to shut down
mobile phones and the internet to prevent
unrest."
Oil and timber rich Congo has been on edge since
an October constitutional referendum that ended a
two-term limit on presidential mandates, allowing
the 72-year-old former paratrooper colonel to
run for office again.
The long-serving leader is accused by critics of
rampant corruption and nepotism and of stifling
democracy.
Authorities imposed a communications blackout
during the vote to prevent opposition candidates
from publishing their own results. A government
source said they would remain suspended until
after the official results were announced.
www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/03/congo-president-denis-sassou-nguesso-wins-election-160324040212900.html