The Republic of Congo is going through a period of intense social and economic tensions. High unemployment, limited access to drinking water and electricity, delays in pension and scholarship payments, and weakened public services: the discontent is profound and enduring. It is in this context that Dave Mafoula, president of the opposition party Les Souverainistes, officially announced his candidacy for the March 2026 presidential election during a solemn statement made this Saturday, December 13, 2025, in Brazzaville.
Dave Mafoula proposes what he calls a “new beginning,” based on an institutional and political break. The Congolese opposition figure advocates notably for a renewed constitution, guaranteeing a real separation of powers, an independent judiciary, and effective checks and balances. This Saturday, December 13, 2025, before the national and international press, he announced his candidacy for the March 2026 presidential election. He claims not to be just the candidate of his party, but that of thousands of Congolese who aspire to profound change, social justice, and the restoration of national dignity.
“I am ready to restore to the Congolese people the freedom that is rightfully theirs, ready to re-establish a peaceful and credible democracy. Ready to ensure an equitable redistribution of our national wealth to sustainably improve the living conditions of every Congolese. It is in this spirit, with a deep sense of responsibility, that here before you, before the Congolese people, and before history, I solemnly announce my candidacy for the March 2026 presidential election.”
His project also emphasizes rebuilding the state, modernizing education and healthcare, diversifying the economy, and the local processing of natural resources, to reduce dependence on raw materials and create sustainable jobs. The diagnosis presented by Dave Mafoula is echoed in several recent indicators. Nearly 47% of the population lives below the poverty line, on less than $2.15 per day. Unemployment affects about 20% of the workforce, with an even higher proportion among young people. To illustrate the urgency for change and mobilize citizens around his project, he has issued a call for responsibility and commitment from everyone.
“That is why I issue a solemn appeal to all. To those who still believe in this country, despite the hardships. To those who refuse to let the tragic history of the last 40 years repeat itself. To those who know that being born in a country is not mere chance, but a sacred mission. A mission of courage and responsibility. To those who know that if we go to the polls en masse, we could liberate our country.”
For the candidate, these figures reflect the failure of a governance model incapable of converting the country’s wealth into social progress, despite considerable potential in the oil and forestry sectors. He calls for a new beginning, which also includes a national act of reparation, aimed at compensating victims of past violence and correcting accumulated injustices.