 And not to all the parts of Africa, the Congolese opposition is boycotting a dialogue organized by the government ahead of local and legislative elections in the Central African country. A coalition of parties dismissed the meeting which starts today in Owando, in the country's North-Azeria stunt meant to divert attention from the various crises plagued in the country. The last match, President Danny Sassou-Ungueso and his Congo Labour Party controversially won re-election, has been in power for a total of 38 years. The government has defended the dialogue as necessary to achieve consensus ahead of the legislative vote to be held in five months. The ruling party is keen to maintain an overwhelming majority, but the opposition has demanded a structured dialogue which past sharing constitutional reforms and the release of political prisoners, key among them, General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko, a former commander who challenged Sassou for the presidency in 2016.