The Democratic Republic of Congo Awaits Confirmation of President’s Re-election
The current president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, is expected to be formally declared the winner in the recent elections, as partial results indicate a significant lead. The National Independent Electoral Commission (Ceni) is scheduled to disclose the provisional totals on Sunday.
At 60 years of age, Tshisekedi has been in office since January 2019 and is vying for a second term. With 17.8 million votes tallied, he holds a commanding lead with 72 percent, followed by businessman Moise Katumbi with 18.9 percent. Nonetheless, opposition leaders, including Martin Fayulu, who alleged being unjustly denied victory in the previous election, have condemned the ongoing election process.
Fayulu, in particular, has adamantly refused to accept what he describes as a “sham” and “organized fraud”. Meanwhile, political analyst Tresor Kibangula has highlighted concerns about potential irregularities in Tshisekedi’s overwhelming vote count.
The election, conducted on December 20, saw 44 million individuals registered to cast their votes for various positions. Despite the extension of the voting period due to logistical challenges, reports of irregularities have emerged, prompting a Catholic-Protestant observation mission to voice apprehensions regarding the integrity of the process.
Amidst tensions, authorities have underscored the necessity for restraint and have taken measures to prevent unrest, particularly in regions renowned for their mineral wealth. It is anticipated that any election disputes will be adjudicated by the Constitutional Court, with final results set to be announced on January 10.
As the nation awaits the official pronouncement of the election results, a sense of anticipation and unease prevails. The outcome of the presidential election will unquestionably carry profound implications for the future trajectory of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
