Citizens of the Republic of Congo will march to the polls on Sunday, March 21, to decide whether the 36-year rule of President Dennis Sassou Nguesso will be extended, AFP reports.

Mr. Nguesso’s over three decades at the reins have been largely colourless and brutish. His ongoing term was renewed in 2016 in an election marred by violence, unprecedented blood shed and state repression.

After the election, Mr. Nguesso’s main opponents Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and Andre Okombi Salissa, disputed the election results and were arrested, put on trial on charges of undermining state security and were sentenced each to 20 years in jail. 

The 77-years old Mr. Nguesso is set for another election victory as the largest opposition group, the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy is said to be boycotting the ballot on account of lack of fairplay and state repression. 

In this election, Mr. Nguesso is contesting against seven challengers among which include his former finance minister, Mathias Dzon.

President Nguesso has been accused severally of perpetuating acts that undermine Congo’s democracy and manipulate state forces for his personal interests. 

Mr. Nguesso is also reported to have influenced a controversial 2015 referendum that removed a 70-years age limit and the two term ban on presidents. 

Under Mr. Nguesso, insecurity and killings have increased in parts of Congo involving rebel groups and unknown militants, a situation that poses a continuous challenge to the oil-dependent economy.