Brazzaville: President Dennis Sassou NGuesso appears set to secure a fifth consecutive term in the Republic of Congo's presidential election held on Sunday. Sassou NGuesso, 82, has been a dominant figure in the political landscape of the oil-rich central African nation, having already served as one of Africa's longest-tenured leaders. According to Deutsche Welle, the election sees approximately three million registered voters from a total population of 5.7 million casting their ballots. President Sassou NGuesso faces competition from six other candidates, although none are deemed to pose a significant challenge to his incumbency. Two major political parties have opted to boycott the election, citing allegations of unfair electoral practices. Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time and are scheduled to close at 6:00 p.m. (1700 GMT). Observers have noted that voter turnout could potentially hit a record low, reflecting public disillusionment with the electoral process. Despite possessing substantial oil reserves, more than half of the Republic of Congo's population lives below the poverty line. The country's economy heavily relies on hydrocarbons, which constitute over three-quarters of its export earnings. Critics have attributed the nation's stunted growth to the misappropriation of oil revenues by high-ranking officials. The Republic of Congo is also grappling with significant international debt, currently at 94.5% of GDP, as reported by the World Bank. The country faces high unemployment rates, particularly among its youth, and has been the subject of several criminal investigations, notably in France. These investigations revolve around allegations of corruption within the government. Sassou NGuesso first came to power in 1979 under a one-party system, only to lose the first multi-party elections in 1992. He regained power in 1997 after leading a militia in a civil war. He was subsequently re-elected in 2002, 2009, 2016, and 2021, though these elections have been criticized by opposition parties f or being undemocratic. In 2015, a constitutional referendum removed age and term limits for the presidency, paving the way for Sassou NGuesso's continued leadership. His administration has faced accusations from rights groups of persecuting opposition activists, with two prominent figures currently imprisoned on charges of threatening internal security. Sassou NGuesso is now the third-longest serving president in Africa, following Cameroon's Paul Biya and Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.