00:00The Republic of Congo's President Denis Sasungesso has been confirmed re-elected after securing about 95% of the vote
00:08in a presidential election that extends his decades-long role.
00:12The Constitutional Court announced the results late on Saturday, confirming a new five-year term following the March 15 vote.
00:20The court said Sasungesso won an absolute majority, with 94.9% of ballots cast on a reported turnout of
00:29nearly 66%.
00:30One of his six challengers, Dave Mafula, tried to have the poll annulled, but judges rejected his complaint.
00:38Sasungesso first led Congo-Brazzaville from 1979 to 1992 under a one-party system, then returned to power in 1997
00:47after a civil war.
00:49Since 2002, he has been re-elected five times in a vote. Critics say were neither transparent nor fully democratic.
00:58Now one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, his supporters credit him with bringing stability, but rights groups accuse his government
01:05of persecuting opponents.
01:07Two challengers from the 2016 race are serving 20-year sentences for alleged threats to internal security.
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