In his New Year’s address for 2026, President Denis Sassou Nguesso mentioned the presidential elections scheduled for March and called for the peaceful conduct of the ballot across the entire national territory.
“From our side, we believe that the voice of every Congolese man and woman contributes to the realization of our common aspiration: to build a united, free, and prosperous nation. This is why I call for peaceful elections, in unity, fair play, and serenity, for the Congo, our homeland, our precious common good,” declared the Head of State. For him, “elections are an event as important as it is decisive, the meeting between the people and the ballot boxes in peace.”
The President of the Republic, whom many supporters are urging to announce his candidacy, has not yet taken a public position. However, he recalled that throughout history, populations have fought to win the right to vote and have exercised it with responsibility: “In modern democracies, voting is a fundamental civil right; voting is a moral duty. Through their suffrage, citizens ensure the proper functioning of democracy: the right to vote is a victory for which peoples mobilized to uphold this essential demand. This civic act has become a civic duty, the fulfillment of which honors the memory of millions of men and women who, through their determination, took part in the struggle to obtain this privilege.”
The head of state also expressed the hope that diplomacy would take precedence over militarization, which has been intensified by ongoing conflicts around the world: “Peace across the entire national territory, as well as peace in Africa and on other continents, would allow the resources dedicated to the arms race to be redirected toward funding and supporting initiatives undertaken for the good of the people.”
Reflecting on the year 2025, whose assessment he had presented to Parliament on November 28, the President of the Republic noted that, alongside the encouraging successes recorded in the last twelve months, certain weaknesses had emerged: “The lessons learned from this period will illuminate our path forward,” he emphasized.
Denis Sassou Nguesso also paid tribute to the compatriots lost in 2025, expressing his compassion and support to the grieving families, as well as to Congolese people affected by illness or hardship.
“To all our compatriots, and to those who, without being Congolese, have chosen the Congo as their home, I wish health, longevity, and prosperity,” declared the president, calling on everyone to approach the new year 2026 with optimism.
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