The Constitutional Court on February 24 published the final list of retained candidates.

There will be more hustling and bustling in Congo’s political playground in the coming days as nine candidates have officially been endorsed to contest for the presidency in the March 20, 2016 presidential election. The country’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 published the list of the nine candidates finally retained for the presidential race.

Incumbent President Denis Sassou Nguesso who is seeking re-election for the third term of office,  will face eight opposition candidates.  Auguste Iloki, President of the Constitutional Court while publishing the final list of candidates said the exercise was one of the integral parts of the electoral process. He explained that of the 10 candidature files the court received, only that of Luc Parfait Tchinianga Mavoungou was rejected, news agencies reported. Reports say he was unable to pay the FCFA 25 million deposit.

Sassou Nguesso  whose candidature was made possible thanks to the amendment of the constitution will face key opposition candidates  some who are former cabinet ministers. Major opposition candidates  include,  André Okombi Salissa, Guy-Brice Parfait Kolélas,  Claudine Munari, as well as  Pascal Tsaty Mabiala,   who was minister during the reign of President Pascal Lissouba  from 1992 to 1997. Anguios Nganguia Engambé  and Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou who stood for the 2009 presidential election are also in the March 20 race. There is equally Michel Mboussi Ngouari.

However, the opposition candidate who has retained the keen attention of many political observers is General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko who up to the beginning of this week was still undergoing judicial interrogation in connection with the video currently in circulation that accuses of an attempted coup plot. Campaigns for the presidential election begin next Friday, March 4 to end of March 18.