Guy Brice Parait Kolelas, the leading opposition presidential candidate in Congo-Brazzaville, who was seriously ill with Covid-19 was being evacuated for treatment when he died just a few hours after polls closed. As stated by his aides on Monday, at the beginning of Sundays votes revealed that the incumbent was in the lead
In a statement given by Kolela’s election campaign officials, the 61 year old was unable to cast his own vote due to him being in hospital with the virus. Kolelas was seen as the strongest challenger for President Deis Sassou Nguesso., although Diplomats and analysts that there was little doubt that the current president would gain victory an extend his 36 year tenure,
The final results are not expected until the end of this week. According to the Electoral Commission, tallies from about 40% of the 86 districts indicated as Sassou Nguesso being ahead, including in some areas where he gained 100% of the votes
“They are all showing the same trend,” the commission’s president Henri Bouka told a news conference in the capital Brazzaville.
Kolelas’ heart stopped when his plane landed in Paris and the ambulance team was unable to save him, said his adviser, Didier Loco. His spokesperson, Justin Nzoloufoua, declined to give the cause of death.
Grieving supporters in the capital Brazzaville filled the Union of Democratic Humanists (UDH-YUKI) party headquarters, where a huge portrait of Kolelas hung on the wall and the national flag flew at half-mast.
“Everyone was counting on him. We are very disappointed,” said Edgar Masomba, a 50-year-old supporter.
“Why, why, why?” several women cried.
Kolelas who is the son of former Prime Minister Bernard Kolelas was employed in the government for many years and came 2nd in presidential elections of 2016.
Kolelas released a video from his hospital bed on late Saturday. He was breathing heavily and holding an oxygen mask next to his face and Kolelas said he was “battling against death” but urged all Congolese to “go vote for a change”.
Whether the actual cause of death was Covid-19 is being questioned by some of Kolela’s supporters. Party leaders nullified all conspiracy theories.
“Whether it was Covid or something else is not important to us. What matters is the future of the party,” said its secretary-general, Gaston Malanda.
“Unfortunately, the catastrophe came at the moment when we were calculating results. We have no information today to say whether he won or not.”
The legal ramifications of a candidate dying after polls close but before the results are announced are not clear, said Maja Bovcon, senior Africa analyst at risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft.
“Given that all of the key institutions of state are under Sassou Nguesso’s control, we do not expect the matter to be referred to the Constitutional Court,” she said.
The constitution was changed by the 77 year old President Sassou in 2015 to extend the tenure of term.
According to witnesses, Election Day was subject to an internet blackout across the country and continued on Monday as well.
