Incumbent President Tshisekedi secures re-election following disputed election
Incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi re-elected for a second term in Democratic Republic of Congo with an overwhelming majority of over 73% votes, as announced by CENI, the country's election commission
The Democratic Republic of Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi has secured a second term with over 73% of the vote in the December 20 poll, as announced by the country's election commission CENI on Sunday. The announcement comes after several days of opposition grievances regarding the election process.
In the capital Kinshasa, Denis Kadima, head of CENI, announced that Tshisekedi had won more than 13 million votes out of over 18 million valid votes, with a turnout of over 43%. Cheers broke out among Tshisekedi's supporters at the declaration of his provisional election.
Political parties, candidates, and their representatives have a two-day window to challenge the election outcome at the Constitutional Court. The court will then have seven days to make a ruling and declare the final result.
Despite coming in second with 18% of the vote, opposition frontrunner Moise Katumbi has stated that he will not pursue a legal challenge to the CENI's results, citing concerns about the independence of state institutions.
The other candidates from the opposition have not indicated their intention to contest the election results. On Sunday, a coalition of nine opposition presidential candidates, led by Katumbi, and six political party leaders called for supporters to participate in street protests following the announcement of the preliminary results.
Joint declaration
The main opposition candidates issued a joint declaration, stating their categorical rejection of the fraudulent election and its outcome. They called for new elections to be conducted by a new electoral body, with the date to be determined through mutual agreement.
"We call on our people to take to the streets en masse after the proclamation of the electoral fraud," they said.
The government of Congo had previously rejected calls for a rerun of the elections.
Logistical challenges, an election day overrun, and an unclear vote count have escalated a conflict that poses a threat to further destabilize a country equivalent in size to Western Europe, which is the world's leading producer of cobalt and other valuable industrial commodities.
Following election day, some of Tshisekedi's primary opponents, such as former oil executive Martin Fayulu, have been demanding a redo of the competition and legislative elections, alleging that the CENI allowed the vote to be manipulated in favor of the president.
CENI and the government have denied these accusations, as well as warnings from independent observer groups that the unplanned extension of voting and other incidents on election day, and during the tabulation of votes, may have undermined the credibility and legal basis of the poll.
