Chaos, controversy surround DRC elections, opposition leaders call for protest march
In the aftermath of this week’s elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a cloud of controversy looms as leading opposition figures brand the electoral process a “sham,” with calls for the annulment of the results gaining momentum.
Five prominent opposition leaders, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege and former oil executive Martin Fayulu, issued a joint statement on Saturday, declaring their intent to organize a protest march next Wednesday.
Amidst the allegations of irregularities, 12 European embassies in Kinshasa, along with the Canadian embassy, issued a joint statement urging calm and restraint from all parties involved.
The United States embassy had previously echoed a similar call, emphasizing the importance of patience while the vote count continues.
The vastness of the DRC, comparable to continental western Europe, coupled with its challenging infrastructure, posed significant logistical hurdles during the elections.
Massive delays and bureaucratic chaos unfolded on Wednesday, leading to the extension of voting until Thursday in some areas. Reports suggest that, in remote regions, ballots were still being cast on Saturday, underscoring the persistent challenges faced by election authorities.
The situation escalated as election official Macaire Kambau Sivikunula in the North Kivu region revealed that he and his family had received death threats due to the failure to conduct the vote as scheduled.
Despite the official extension granted by the electoral commission, Ceni, opposition leaders highlighted serious irregularities and announced their intention to march against perceived voting discrepancies.
Meanwhile, President Felix Tshisekedi seeks re-election against 18 opposition candidates, with initial results from the Congolese diaspora indicating a provisional lead for him.
However, the release of other results, expected on Saturday, was postponed until Sunday. Tshisekedi, considered the front runner in the first-past-the-post presidential election, faces a divided opposition.
International observers, including the African Union and the US-based Carter Center, acknowledged major logistical challenges during the polls.
The Carter Center reported “serious irregularities” at 21 out of 109 polling stations it visited, while Congolese civil-society observers highlighted instances of voters being turned away illegally in 21 percent of observed polling stations.
As the political landscape in the DRC remains tumultuous, the Congolese government and Ceni have rejected accusations of chaos, instead initiating an inquiry into “acts of violence, vandalism, and sabotage” allegedly carried out by certain candidates.
The unfolding events cast a shadow over the electoral process, leaving the nation on edge and the international community closely watching the developments.
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