“It is the people who decide, we are confident”: Congolese President ahead of election

By

Darell Maurice

In a recent working visit to the town of Kinkala, Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso attended the official presentation of the construction project of the twelve general hospitals across twelve departments of the country.

Following the ceremony, the Head of State had a guided tour of the hospital facilities and took questions from journalists:

Press: All these sites we see, you are the builder, is the rationale for this new application?

Denis Sassou Nguesso: “I think you’ve heard, people who see this program run, who think that in recent years we have brought peace and stability in the country. People who see these programs run, I think are saying and simply want the one who initiated this program to continue to run. There are other guidelines to be declined in the program that we will publish soon.”

Press: Do you understand the criticism from outside the excessive longevity in power that is yours?

Denis Sassou Nguesso: “Good! We listen. I do not know if we can talk about democracy outside the will of the people. The outside! I do not know if those who speak of Africa know Africa. They have to come here. But they know, I believe the United States, France and elsewhere, we have seen heads of state stay long in power. General de Gaulle stayed long in power. Today we are seeing that the Germans are satisfied with their Chancellor.

She is in her third term in Germany. Maybe she will take a fourth term. But it depends on the will of the people and not the dictates coming from other countries. We call this interference or the will of the powerful who want to impose their will on others.

But the world’s people have always resisted it. If it was not, they would not be independent. The French Revolution triumphed in 1789. And in 1883, when democracy, freedom, fraternity, these slogans were launched. Centuries later there was the colonization of our people.

Our people may still be victims of blood. This debate can go far, we can talk. There is much to say. Maybe one day this debate will open and we will have the opportunity to speak. But what concerns us is the people who will decide.”

Press: You are confident in the outcome of the elections of 20 March?

Denis Sassou Nguesso: “We are confident that this is the relationship we have with our people who guide us.”

Darell Maurice

Darell Maurice is a Journalist based in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital city Kinshasa and works for Canal7kintv. He also blogs here.