• The Republic of Congo’s parliamentary election campaign began on Friday.
• Over 2,000 candidates are running for 151 assembly seats in the vote on July 10.
• Two opposition parties have said they will boycott the election over fears that it will be rigged.

The Republic of Congo’s parliamentary election campaign began on Friday, with segments of the opposition in the central African country planning to boycott the vote.

Political candidate posters and banners were everywhere in Brazzaville, according to an AFP correspondent, and parades were also held.

Over 2,000 candidates are running for 151 assembly seats in the vote on July 10, according to the country’s directorate general of electoral affairs.

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But two small opposition parties have said they will boycott the election over fears that it will be rigged.

“All these elections are organized in total disrespect of the law,” said Clement Mierassa, the leader of one of the parties.

The Congolese Labour Party (PCT) of President Denis Sassou Nguesso is currently the largest in the 151-seat assembly, with 92 deputies.

It is fielding 127 candidates in July.

Nguesso, a 78-year-old former paratrooper, has been president of the Republic of Congo for a total of 37 years.

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The country’s leading opposition party, the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS), intends to field 45 candidates.

UDH-Yuki, another opposition party, will also put forward candidates.

Boycotting “does not pay at all,” said Diop Mahouckouss, the party’s deputy head of communications.