BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (AP) — Republic of Congo is pressing ahead with an election that is expected to extend President Denis Sassou N’Guesso’s 36 years in power. Observers said polls opened as scheduled Sunday morning, although a watchdog group reported that an internet blackout began at around midnight on election day. Meanwhile, the leading opposition candidate was flown to France for medical treatment after suffering COVID-19 complications. Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas finished second to Sassou N’Guesso in the Central African country’s 2016 presidential election. Kolelas had been particularly critical of the incumbent leader in recent days, declaring that Republic of Congo had become “a police state.” His campaign confirmed Saturday that he was very ill with COVID-19.
