[3] The CNEI is composed of members of both government and opposition parties, as well as civil society,[4] and unlike the CONEL it is set up to be independent and financially autonomous.
[10] A new constitution passed by referendum in 2015 enabled term-limited President Denis Sassou Nguesso to run for re-election.
[11] Aside from the PCT, various other parties pledged to support Sassou Nguesso, including the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI), the Action and Renewal Movement (MAR), Citizen Rally (RC), the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), the Rally for Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS),[12] the Republican Dynamic for Development (DRD),[13] and the Club 2002–Party for the Unity of the Republic.
[14] In late January 2016, the main opposition party, the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS), designated its leader, Pascal Tsaty Mabiala, as its presidential candidate.
[15] André Okombi Salissa, the President of the Initiative for Democracy in Congo, announced on 30 January 2016 that he planned to stand as a presidential candidate.
[18] In the days after Mokoko announced his candidacy, a video from the early 2000s that indicated his involvement in a coup plot surfaced on the Internet.
[20] On 22 February 2016, 10 prospective presidential candidacies were submitted to the Constitutional Court for approval: Denis Sassou Nguesso, Anguios Nganguia-Engambé, Pascal Tsaty Mabiala, Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko, André Okombi Salissa, Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas, Claudine Munari, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou, Joseph Mboussi Ngouari, and Louis Parfait Tchignamba Mavoungou.
Sassou Nguesso, campaigning in Pointe-Noire, discussed his economic development plans and vowed to win the vote with a majority in the first round.
[24] While campaigning, Sassou Nguesso stressed that as President, he had maintained peace and facilitated economic growth and the building of infrastructure.
The opposition candidates focused on raising doubts about the credibility of the electoral commission and claiming that the government was preparing to rig the election.
[26] Previous election observation missions include those carried out by the African Union,[27] the Francophonie[28] and European Commission.
[29] On election day the authorities banned the use of motor vehicles, and also cut Internet and cell phone service.
[31] Partial results, accounting for 72 out of 111 districts, were announced by the electoral commission on 22 March, showing Sassou Nguesso far ahead of his rivals with 67% of the vote.
Frédéric Bintsamou, the erstwhile leader of the group, had declared his support for Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas in the presidential election.
[45] Kolelas said on 6 April that he accepted the decision of the Constitutional Court validating Sassou Nguesso's re-election, although he maintained that it was "questionable".