Nearly 2.5 million Congolese voters timidly began casting their ballots in the ballot box this Sunday, March 21, in more than 5,700 polling stations to elect the head of state. A total of seven opponents are present, including outgoing President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, who has spent 36 years at the helm of the country. The election campaign took place without major incidents. One notable element, however, is: one of the president’s main opponents, Guy-Brice Parfait Kolélas, is hospitalized, contaminated by Covid-19.
The round made by our correspondentLoïcia Martial, since this morning, shows everywhere that it is not prosperity for the big days.
Hard to see long queues in the capital’s offices, at least where we passed, between kl. 8 and at. 12.30. It’s a bit the same landscape on the Pointe-Noire side. “It’s a sleepy voice, no enthusiasm,” explained a colleague from the local press, who was reached by post. Telephone.
In Gamboma, in the center, the opponent Mathias Dzon, an office manager, also reached by phone, let’s understand that the vote is timid.
No major incident to report at this time. Voting is peaceful. Everywhere the traffic is closed. The borders are also closed … No internet connection either. It is calm that prevails, but it is shyness in front of the polling stations.
Read also: Congolese-Brazzaville presidential election: turnout and transparency, voting challenges.
Kolélas evacuated during the day to France
Outgoing President Denis Sassou-Nguesso voted after 1 p.m. 11.30. He talked about the health condition of his main opponentGuy-Brice Parfait Kolélas, admitted to hospital after testing positive for Covid-19 on Friday.
According to his entourage, Guy-Brice Parfait Kolélas, 60, was still under respiratory assistance this Sunday morning, but consciously and in a “stable condition.”
The medical plane, specially chartered for evacuation to France, arrived in Brazzaville at night. The opponent – who has French nationality – must be brought to Paris. His family hoped he could leave Brazzaville at the end of the morning; the departure is finally scheduled at 18, time for the crew to rest.
Originally admitted to a private clinic where he was diagnosed positive for Covid-19, the opponent has since been transferred to the Covid unit in Brazzaville CHU, where the equipment that will allow her to prepare for her evacuation is located.
The opponent seemed more and more weakened during this presidential campaign, his entourage first mentioning the flu and then malaria, but the concern grew during his Owando meeting, which he hosted on a chair.
His condition worsened further Friday. He had to give up his final meeting to be admitted. In a video message recorded from his hospital bed and broadcast on Saturday night, he looks exhausted, assisted by a fan and claims to be “fighting to the death” while urging Congolese to go to the polls this Sunday.
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