Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso’s election success will extend his nearly 42 years in power.
Published On 17 Mar 202617 Mar 2026
Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected for a fifth consecutive term, extending his nearly 42 years in power, according to provisional results.
On Tuesday, Interior Minister Raymond Zephirin Mboulou announced on state TV that Sassou Nguesso received 94.82 percent of Sunday’s vote.
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State television also reported turnout of 84.65 percent; however, many polling stations in the capital, Brazzaville, on Sunday had short lines or no lines at all.
Sassou Nguesso, 82, was projected by analysts and diplomats to easily win the election after he ran against six candidates who were less well known.
Boycott
Two key parties had boycotted the elections over allegations of unfair electoral practices, with two of the best-known opposition figures, General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and Andre Okombi Salissa, imprisoned for nearly 10 years.
But in the run-up to the election, the internet was shut down as usual during a presidential vote, and traffic was restricted across the capital.
Supporters of incumbent President of the Republic of Congo and presidential candidate Denis Sassou Nguesso stand on the side of the road as they wait for him to arrive at a polling station in Brazzaville on March 15, 2026 [Daniel Beloumou Olomo/AFP]
Clarisse Massamba, a teacher who voted at the Lyce Javoueh in Brazzaville, told The Associated Press news agency that it was a given that Sassou Nguesso would win the election.
“Everyone knows that, faced with his six inexperienced opponents, President Denis Sassou Nguesso will be re-elected with a high score as usual. Since the election is not a big issue, we shouldn’t cut off communication,” Massamba said.
During the campaign period, Sassou Nguesso and his opponents were mismatched with the incumbent president, the only candidate to travel around the country to canvass voters, with effigies placed in the capital.
Moreover, Joe Washington Ebina, a Congolese human rights activist, told the Reuters news agency that human rights activists were arrested, several opposition parties were suspended, and public gatherings were closely monitored in the run-up to the election.
Decades in power
Republic of Congo continues to struggle with high international debt, which, according to the World Bank, stands at 94.5 percent of its gross domestic product, despite being an oil and mineral-rich country.
Sassou Nguesso, who runs the Congolese Party of Labour, first came to power in 1979 and ruled until 1992.
In 1997, Sassou Nguesso returned to power as militia leader following a four-month civil war. In 2015, a constitutional referendum removed presidential age and term limits, allowing him to run again.
#1 Sierra Canyon, bye #5 Santa Margarita 75, #4 Redondo Union 71 #3 Santa Maria St. Joseph 66, #6 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 60 #2 Harvard-Westlake, bye
GIRLS
Open Division
#1 Sierra Canyon, bye #4 Sage Hill, bye #3 Etiwanda, bye #2 Ontario Christian, bye
Note: Quarterfinals in Division I-V are Thursday, March 5 at higher seeds; Semifinals in all divisions are Saturday, March 7 at higher seeds; Finals are Tuesday March 10 at higher seeds. State championships are March 13-14 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL PLAYOFFS TUESDAY’S RESULTS
BOYS Division I #16 Mater Dei 86 #1 La Mirada 79 #9 JSerra 60, #8 Francis Parker 59 #5 Victory Christian Academy 71, #12 Rancho Christian 65 #4 St. John Bosco 65, #13 San Marcos 55 #3 Crespi 83, #14 Bishop Amat 66 #6 Damien 84, #11 Inglewood 65 #7 Crean Lutheran 68, #10 Santa Fe Christian 56 #2 Corona Centennial 42, #15 Hesperia 38
Division II #1 Eastvale Roosevelt 106, #16 Bakersfield Centennial 68 #8 Palisades 80, #9 Mira Mesa 67 #5 La Costa Canyon 72, #12 Aliso Niguel 68 #13 Torrey Pines 54, #4 Olympian 53 #3 Bakersfield Christian 51, #14 San Pedro 44 #11 El Cajon Christian 51, #6 Cathedral Catholic 46 #7 Murrieta Mesa 66, #10 Cleveland 63 #15 Carlsbad 61, #2 Mission Bay 53
Division III #1 Gahr 67, #16 Narbonne 51 #8 Shalhevet 56, #9 Rancho Bernardo 42 #5 Colony 90, #12 Norte Vista 69 #13 Atascadero 69, #4 Warren 62 #3 Birmingham 79, #14 Gardena Serra 67 #6 Trabuco Hills 55, #11 El Camino Real 47 #7 Poway 63, #10 Washington Prep 56 #2 Fairfax 65, #15 Pilibos 49
Division IV #1 Tulare Union 60, #16 Salesian 51 #8 Placentia Valencia 67, #8 Ramona 62 #12 Vasquez 93, #5 Laguna Hills 79 #13 Moreno Valley 41, #4 Central Valley Christian 39 #3 San Juan Hills 64, #14 Pacific Ridge 57 #11 Venice 61, #6 Ramona 50 #7 Army-Navy 57, #10 Chatsworth 48 #2 Granada Hills Charter 55, #15 Rialto 52
Division V #1 Coalinga, bye #9 Verdugo Hills 52, #8 Colton 47 #5 Orosi 59, #12 Redlands Adventist Academy 35 #4 Rowland 78, #13 Pacific 48 #3 Canyon Country Canyon 83, #14 Franklin 66 #6 Victor Valley 72, #11 Edgewood 55 #7 Preuss UCSD 53, #10 South El Monte 48 #2 Sylmar 104, #15 Canoga Park 65
GIRLS
Division I #1 Mater Dei 66, #16 Windward 46 #8 La Salle 50, #9 Westview 37 #5 Corona Centennial 67, #12 Valencia 40 #13 Moreno Valley 75, #4 Fairmont Prep 69 #3 Francis Parker 65, #14 Westchester 41 #6 Oak Park 72, #11 La Jolla Country Day 57 #7 JSerra 54, #10 Mission Hills 51 #2 Rancho Christian 102, #15 Bakersfield Christian 48
Division II #1 Birmingham 68, #16 Misson Oak 60 #9 San Diego Cathedral 48, #8 Camarillo 47 #5 Grossmont 73, #12 LA Hamilton 57 #4 Saugus 46, #13 San Diego Lincoln 39 #3 Crescenta Valley 65, #14 La Costa Canyon 63 #6 Rosary Academy 58, #11 Victor Christian Academy 47 #10 St. Margaret’s 50, #7 Chula Vista Mater Dei 36 #2 Santa Maria St. Joseph 71, #15 Venice 62
Division IV #1 Marina 57, #16 Escondido 55 #8 Savanna 53, #9 El Camino Real 39 #5 Palisades 61, #12 La Palma Kennedy 59 #13 Hillcrest 46, #4 Cleveland 42 #3 Tulare Union 47, #14 San Pedro 44 #6 Granada Hills Kennedy 64, #11 San Jacinto 47 #7 Oakwood 50, #10 Warren 19 #2 Godinez 57, #15 Ridgecrest Burroughs 38
Division V #1 Rosamond 59, #16 University Prep 25 #8 Patriot 36, #9 Chadwick 31 #5 Bakersfield Foothill 55, #12 Sierra Vista 45 #4 Laguna Hills 48, #13 Wilmington Banning 24 #3 North Hollywood 53, #14 San Pasqual 36 #6 Schurr 52, #11 Santana 30 #10 Orange 51, #7 Washington Prep 47 #2 Vista 63, #15 Desert Hot Springs 46
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
BOYS Open Division #1 Sierra Canyon, bye #5 Santa Margarita at #4 Redondo Union #6 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame at #3 Santa Maria St. Joseph #2 Harvard-Westlake, bye
GIRLS Open Division #1 Sierra Canyon, bye #4 Sage Hill, bye #3 Etiwanda, bye #2 Ontario Christian, bye
Note: Quarterfinals in Division I-V are Thursday, March 5 at higher seeds; Semifinals in all divisions are Saturday, March 7 at higher seeds; Finals are Tuesday March 10 at higher seeds. State championships are March 13-14 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
Stephen Bunting silenced his critics as he inflicted a third final defeat of the season on Gian van Veen to win night four of the Premier League in Belfast.
The 40-year-old has seen his place in the tournament questioned by spectators after he failed to win a game in the first three weeks.
That followed ‘the Bullet’ taking nine weeks to register a point in last year’s event – his first involvement since being a challenger in 2020.
Bunting, who has come off social media because of the criticism, registered his highest Premier League average (106.63) in his 6-4 quarter-final win over defending champion Luke Humphries.
He backed that up with another 106 average in a 6-0 clean sweep against current league leader Jonny Clayton in the semi-finals, before a clinical 6-2 win over Van Veen in the final.
“I do believe I am one of the best players in the world – I deserve to be in the Premier League,” Bunting told Sky Sports.
“Everyone was writing me off, people saying I should not be in it, but I know how hard I work behind the scenes. These are the nights I play for.
“Losing seven or eight on the bounce last year really helped me, gave me a lot of experience in this field. When you play in the Premier League, you’re playing against the best of the best. This ranks up as one of the best wins of my career.”
Van Veen, who is playing in the tournament for the first time, has impressed in making three finals in four weeks but is struggling to get over the line.
Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock, who is the other debutant in this year’s field, lost 6-2 to Van Veen in the quarters, but delighted the home crowd with the first nine-darter of this year’s tournament.
Elsewhere, there was more disappointment for world number one Luke Littler, who lost 6-3 to Clayton in the quarter-finals, meaning he has only won one game in four weeks.
International commitments over the winter months have interrupted pre-season preparations and that was a common message from coaches as some teams coped better than others on the big stage.
In front of packed stands at one of the UK’s largest indoor arenas, Birmingham Panthers and Manchester Thunder both lost three from three.
“It’s been a tough day,” said Thunder coach Karen Greig, whose side lost their three games heavily to make an early exit.
Thunder will face NSL champions Pulse in the league’s opening match, with more than 5,000 tickets sold for that Copper Box encounter.
Greig has brought England goal shooter El Cardwell back to England after a successful stint in Australia while Thunder also have fellow Roses star Nat Metcalf back after she missed last season when pregnant and looking after baby son Miller.
But it was to no avail at the Super Cup.
“Today was about us understanding where we were actually at,” Greig said.
“The performances and the connections on the court definitely highlighted that.
“The quality that we’ve got in our group is undeniable and it’s about us now making sure we get everyone on the same page and connected.”
There was no such problem for Lightning while Pulse took consolation from being a whisker away from another major title.
As Pulse coach Sam Bird said: “I’m not too worried. I’m disappointed because I like winning everything available but I think we take a lot of positives from the day. It’s a nice rivalry to continue with.”
DANNIELLA Westbrook has finally revealed the full extent of her recent surgery makeover after undergoing a full face, neck and brow lift.
The former soap star underwent multiple facial surgeries weeks ago in Dubai and was spotted looking swollen and bruised as she emerged from surgery.
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Danniella has unveiled the results of her facial operations – but couldn’t resist adding a filter or twoCredit: BackGridDanniella showed off her new face in a series of snaps but ensured they were filtered so she was looking her bestCredit: BackGridThe star pictured leaving her operations earlier this monthCredit: BackGridDanniella pictured in 1995 before undergoing any surgeriesCredit: Getty
But now the ‘results’ have been revealed with Danniella sharing a slew of new snaps post-surgery but ever the perfectionist, the star couldn’t resist adding a filter or two to the images before she posted them online.
The star’s new images featured a helping hand in order to enhance her appearance even more post-surgery.
The axed EastEnders star could be seen posing on a towel as she enjoyed the Dubai heat.
Wearing a blue bikini, Danniella showed off her filtered face and her body in the images.
She pulled a series of sultry poses in which evidence of her recent nose operations could be seen thanks to some slight bruising still visible around the nostril area.
In another image, Danniella opted to wear a pair of glasses as she laid back and relaxed in the sunshine.
Danniella had a full face, neck and brow lift in addition to a lip and nose reconstruction.
Following the operation, she left the facility in a wheelchair with a facial compression garment wrapped around her head.
A full recovery for a face, neck and chin lift can take up to nine months.
The star popped a filter on her selfies for good measureCredit: BackGridShe wasn’t shy about showing off her body either in the imagesCredit: BackGridDanniella’s face has changed drastically over the years thanks to surgery and heavy drug abuseCredit: Shutterstock
The surgery was performed by Danniella’s trusted Surgeon Dr Parviz Sadigh, who has carried out operations on her in the past.
Danniella became hooked on drugs at the age of 14 after beginning to take cocaine after shooting to fame as Sam Mitchell in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders.
The former star estimates that she has spent a whopping £250,000 on cocaine in her lifetime and was using at least five grams a day throughout her entire pregnancy with son, Kai.
Danniella was addicted to drugs throughout the 1990s and early 2000.
She then managed to stay clean before a number of relapses including in 2017 – the year after she last appeared on EastEnders.
Her latest known drug relapse was in 2021.
This abuse led to the collapse of her nose and cheekbones, with her septum – the cartilage that separates the two nostrils – falling out.
At the time, the star admitted she was hoping to rebuild her face so that she can kick start her acting career once again.
On the day of her surgery, she said: “Big day for me heading down for a very long surgery right now to rebuild my face.
“Then I can get back to work.”
Danniella on-set of EastEnders during her last appearance in 2016Credit: BBCThe star pictured on Celebrity Big Brother in 2016Credit: GettyHer face changed drastically just a couple of years laterCredit: Splash
In 1994, the Rev. Jesse Jackson declared war on Hollywood.
The civil rights leader, who died Tuesday, set his sights on the entertainment industry, accusing it of “institutional racism” and calling out what he called the lack of representation of people of color and women, an issue that reverberates today.
Jackson aimed his trademark fiery dynamism at studio and network executives, forming the Rainbow Coalition on Fairness in the Media — an offshoot of his Rainbow Coalition that focused on social justice and economic equality — and threatening boycotts against projects that excluded minorities.
Comparing his campaign to the historic march in Selma, Ala., and other civil rights demonstrations during a news conference, Jackson said, “They think they have the right to not include us in recruitment, hiring, promotion, projection, decision making. But we have consumer power, we have viewer power, we have the power to change dials. … The networks have time now to get their house in order. They can begin to change now.”
But despite his characteristic command and media savvy, Jackson’s campaign never gained true momentum, scoring mixed results. Black actors and creators within Hollywood for the most part failed to rally around him, and leaders of some advocacy groups accused him of losing focus. Whoopi Goldberg made fun of him while hosting the 1996 Oscars.
By 1997, the battle had fizzled out and Jackson had moved on to more political concerns.
The clash with Hollywood was first sparked after several Black-oriented shows on Fox, including “South Central,” “Roc,” “In Living Color” and “The Sinbad Show” were canceled in the July 1994. Jackson felt there would not be much improvement in the diversity on the shows in the upcoming fall season.
“We know that significant shows were cut off from Fox this season, and that is of great concern to us,” Jackson said at a news conference at the African American Community Unity Center where he was accompanied by Brotherhood Crusade founder Danny Bakewell and comedian Sinbad, who starred in his own eponymous sitcom.
And Jackson said it wasn’t the only TV network with this problem. “We look at the data we have on NBC. It is substantial. It is ugly. We look at the projected format for CBS this fall. In the real sense, all of them are recycling racist practices. It is called institutional racism. It is manifest not only in their hiring, but in their priorities.”
He added that he was also concerned about what he claimed was poor representation of people of color and women among network news anchors and on writing staffs on prime-time network series. He criticized the prominence of Black actors having major roles that often involved criminal activity.
Jameel Hasan as Homey Jr., left, and Damon Wayans as Homey D. Clown on Fox’s “In Living Color,” which was canceled in 1994.
(Nicola Goode / Fox)
“We have written the networks letters, and the response, by and large, has been defensive as they attempt to justify what is unjustifiable,” Jackson said at the news conference. “While we’re willing to talk, we’re also willing to walk. It’s now time for aggressive direct action.”
In a separate interview, he targeted politically oriented Sunday news shows, saying they excluded Black journalists and news figures: “Those all-white hosts determine their guests and set the political agenda for public policy for Monday morning. That’s not America.”
His newly formed commission was researching network hiring practices and minority images. He vowed that boycotts and other actions would take place if there was not significant change.
But those demonstrations never materialized, and no boycotts were called. Roughly a year after his initial declaration, observers inside and outside the industry said networks had mostly ignored Jackson, and that little had changed.
Some leaders at the time questioned his commitment, saying he did not seem truly dedicated to aggressive action.
Sonny Skyhawk, founder and president of American Indians in Film, one of the organizations that had joined forces with Jackson, said the campaign against the networks should have been stronger.
“I would hate to criticize him for not being more diligent, but it is frustrating,” said Skyhawk in a 1995 interview about the initiative. “I don’t know where (the issue) is or why he is not continuing on this. But I think he got sidetracked on a lot of other things.”
Sherrie Mazingo, who was then head of broadcast journalism at USC, said she was not surprised that the Jackson campaign had lost steam: “What happened last season isn’t new, it’s perennial, and may even be cyclical. Protests and accusations and talk like this goes on all the time, and nothing ever happens. Nothing.”
Mazingo cited similar efforts by the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People in the early 1980s that had attacked Hollywood’s hiring practices. A boycott of films that failed to use Black artists in front of or behind the camera was proposed but never materialized.
“I believe what happens when these things start is that an individual in the organization who is pushing forward on these issues gets tired of banging their head against a brick wall,” Mazingo said. “They make an all-out assault, exhaust a lot of energy and money, and nothing ever significantly changes, except for a token gesture here and there.”
Sumi Haru, who was president of the Assn. of Asian Pacific Artists, said Jackson had been sidetracked by more topical issues such as a conservative power grab in Washington, D.C., and calls for abolishing affirmative action programs.
“He needed to focus his energy on the civil rights initiative, and affirmative action was a much bigger deal,” said Haru.
But Billie Green, president of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood branch of the NAACP, said Jackson’s campaign would have been more effective if it had joined forces with other organizations that had members within the television industry.
Jackson pushed back against the criticism, insisting that the fight against Hollywood “is still very high on our agenda.” He pointed out that he had worked to continue government funding for the Public Broadcasting Service, protested the cancellation of the Nickelodeon series about two Black brothers, “My Brother and Me,” picketed conservative “hate radio” programs and sent out a fax to 8,000 supporters asking them to rally CBS to bring back the family drama “Under One Roof.”
“It’s going to get more intense,” Jackson said.
In 1996, Jackson turned his attention to the Academy Awards, angered that there was only one Black nominee among the 166 artists nominated. He called for picketing in major cities and and said Black people attending the Oscar ceremony should wear a symbol expressing solidarity against what he called Hollywood’s “race exclusion and cultural violence.”
But during the Oscars, which was produced by Quincy Jones, Goldberg, who was hosting, took a swipe at the civil rights leader who was picketing across town.
“Jesse Jackson asked me to wear a ribbon. I got it,” Goldberg said during her opening. “But I had something I want to say to Jesse right here, but he’s not watching, so why bother?” The remark drew applause and laughter from the black-tie audience.
Some leaders, producers and directors were not amused by Goldberg, saying her remarks were insulting and dismissive of a serious fight to gain diversity within the motion picture industry. But others criticized Jackson, calling his action ill-timed and ill-advised. Several of the most prominent African Americans present, including Oprah Winfrey, Sidney Poitier and Laurence Fishburne, did not wear rainbow-colored ribbons as a sign of solidarity with Jackson and his Rainbow Coalition.
Even though he concentrated on other endeavors, Jackson was not totally done with Hollywood. He and the Rev. Al Sharpton spearheaded a protest in 2002 against the comedy “Barbershop” and its jokes about Jackson and ciivil rights icons Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. The two leaders also threatened a boycott against the 2004 comedy “Soul Plane.”
