The Republic of Congo’s presidential contenders have staged their final rallies, closing an intense campaign that has laid bare both the country’s political fault lines and its enduring appetite for change.

Seven candidates are vying to lead the central African oil producer, where economic hardship, youth unemployment and questions over political continuity have dominated speeches and street debates alike.

At the heart of the race is President Denis Sassou Nguesso, whose long tenure has shaped Congo’s modern political landscape. His Congolese Workers’ Party, known by its French acronym PCT, has assembled a broad coalition of around 20 parties, projecting an image of stability and experience. At his closing rally in Brazzaville, party loyalists in red and green shirts filled public squares, waving flags and chanting slogans that framed Sassou Nguesso as the guarantor of peace in a volatile region.

Opposition figures, however, have used the campaign’s final days to argue that stability without renewal is no longer enough. Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou, a veteran parliamentarian and leader of The Chain party, is making his fifth presidential bid. His rallies have drawn supporters frustrated by persistent poverty despite Congo’s oil wealth, and he has promised institutional reforms and a stronger fight against corruption.

Anguios Nganguia Engambe, head of the Party for Action of the Republic, is also a familiar name on the ballot, running for the fourth consecutive time. He has focused on social justice and regional equity, telling crowds in provincial towns that the benefits of natural resources must reach beyond the capital.

Newcomers are seeking to tap into the energy of younger voters. Independent candidate Vivien Romain Manangou has campaigned on a message of generational change, using small, interactive gatherings to present himself as an alternative to entrenched political elites. Melaine Destin Gavet Elengo of the Republican Movement and Mabio Mavoungou Zinga of the Alliance have similarly pitched fresh leadership, calling for diversification of the economy and better governance of public finances.

Across the country, the final rallies unfolded under a heavy security presence but largely peaceful atmosphere. Civil society groups and religious leaders have urged calm and transparency, calling on authorities to ensure that polling stations are accessible and that results are released credibly.

As the campaign noise fades, Congolese voters now face a familiar but consequential choice: continuity under a powerful incumbent, or the uncertain path of political renewal promised by his challengers.