Dr Congo: President Felix Tshisekedi secures 2nd term
President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has claimed a resounding victory, securing a second term in office with a reported 73 percent of the vote in the provisional results announced on Sunday. However, the opposition leaders are quick to denounce the election as a “sham.”
The country’s electoral commission Ceni declared the provisional results from the single-round presidential ballot, sparking mixed reactions across the nation.
Tshisekedi, flanked by his wife Denise and mother, addressed cheering supporters from the balcony of his campaign headquarters in the capital, Kinshasa.
“I have been re-elected president of all Congolese,” proclaimed Tshisekedi, dressed in a white shirt and cap, embracing his second mandate with a spirit of openness.
Moise Katumbi, a wealthy businessman, football club owner, and former provincial governor, emerged as the election runner-up with approximately 18 percent of the votes.
The Constitutional Court is set to confirm the provisional results on January 10, adding another layer of anticipation to an already contentious electoral process.
Tshisekedi, 60, initially assumed the presidency in January 2019 after a disputed election, raising eyebrows among observers who believed he had lost.
Martin Fayulu, who contested the 2018 poll and claims to have been robbed of victory, participated in this year’s election but secured only about five percent of the votes.
The discontent among opposition figures is palpable, with nine candidates, including Katumbi, Fayulu, and Denis Mukwege, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, signing a declaration rejecting the election as a “sham” and demanding a re-run.
Addressing reporters in Kinshasa, Fayulu declared the results as a “masquerade” that should not be accepted. Tresor Kibangula, a political analyst at the Ebuteli research institute, commented on Tshisekedi’s unexpected vote tally, stating that it “is way beyond all expectations,” raising concerns about observed irregularities in certain regions.
The voting process, originally scheduled for December 20, faced challenges leading to an official one-day extension to account for problems. Observers noted that voting continued for days in remote areas, contributing to concerns about the integrity of the election.
A Catholic-Protestant observation mission documented numerous irregularities, prompting 15 embassies to call for “restraint” in the mineral-rich yet impoverished nation. Authorities emphasize their efforts to prevent unrest, particularly in the southeast mining areas, a stronghold of Katumbi.
Opposition leaders, however, express a lack of confidence in the Constitutional Court and Ceni, alleging subservience to the government.
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