Republic of the Congo: President, 20 March 2016

At stake in this election:

• The office of the President of the Republic of the Congo

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997)
• Head of Government: President Densi SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997)
• Assembly: The Republic of the Congo has a bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate and the National Assembly. The Senate is composed of 72 seats and the National Assembly is composed of 139 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is directly elected by absolute majority popular vote, in 2 rounds if needed, for a 5-year term.

Last Election:

• The last presidential election in the Republic of the Congo was held in 2009. Denis SASSOU-Nguesso was reelected, taking 78.6% of the vote. An October 2015 referendum was held and approved which abolishes the two-term limit and age limit of 70 for presidential candidates.

Main candidates in the election:

• Denis SASSOU-Nguesso
  • Party: Congolese Labour Party(PCT)/Parti congolais du travail, PCT
• Pascal Tsaty Mabiala
  • Party: Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS)/Union Panafricaine pour la Démocratie Sociale
• Andre Okombi Salissa
  • Party: N/A (formerly of PCT)
• General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko
  • Party: N/A
• Gilda Rosemonde Moutsara Gambou
  • Party: Free Conscience Party

Population and number of registered voters:

·         Population: 4,755,097 (July 2015 est.)

·         Registered Voters: 2,078,802 (2009)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 2,371,197

·         Is the Republic of the Congo a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (29 July 1980)

·         Has the Republic of the Congo ratified CEDAW: Yes (26 July 1982)

·         Gender Quota: Yes[1]

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 24 (11.37%)[2]

·         Human Development Index Position: 136 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium

Disability Data:

·         Is the Republic of the Congo a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has the Republic of the Congo ratified CRPD: Yes (2 September 2014)

·         Population with a disability: 713,265