Africa-Press. Opposition leader Ntumi has announced the withdrawal of his candidacy from the presidential election scheduled for March 15. The decision was disclosed last Friday by the National Council of Republicans (CNR) in a press statement read by the party’s secretary-general, Philippe Anié.
The announcement came shortly after President Denis Sassou Nguesso officially declared his candidacy for the 2026 presidential election, with Ntumi’s party confirming that the opposition leader would not take part in the race.
In its statement, the National Council of Republicans condemned what it described as acts of violence committed by security forces last month in the Pool region, stating that “the conditions for holding free and fair elections are not in place.”
The party also accused the government of failing to honor its commitments, foremost among them “the reintegration of the president of the National Council of Republicans into political life,” which it said prevents him from fully assuming his role as a peace mediator and political actor across all regions of the country.
The party’s secretary-general explained that the withdrawal decision also reflects a concern for stability. He said: “The National Council of Republicans and its leader will not be a scapegoat through which the Congolese people suffer destruction and hardship.” He added: “Under these circumstances, and to avoid destabilizing peace under the pretext of the president of the National Council of Republicans running for office, we deemed it necessary to preserve social cohesion and peace.”
