Republic of Congo's President Nguesso confirms bid to extend 40 years at helm

Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou Nguesso said Thursday he would run for a new term in elections in March, seeking to extend his more than four decades in power at age 82.

"I will stand as a candidate in the presidential election," the central African country's leader said in a statement issued by his staff.

It said he had made the announcement before a crowd of several thousand people in the southern district of Ignie.

By law Nguesso is not barred from contesting in the election. Constitutional reforms passed in 2015 scrapped the original age limit of 70 for presidential candidates and introduced three five-year terms.

Nguesso led Republic of Congo, which is also known as Congo-Brazzaville, under a one-party system from 1979 to 1992, before Pascal Lissouba defeated him in a first democratic contest. He ousted the latter in 1997 after a civil war and has ruled since.

The ruling Congolese Labour Party (PCT) announced in December that the president will seek a fresh term.

The president won reelection in March 2021 with over 88% of the vote.