The United States urged for peaceful resolution of any election disputes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday, following the declaration of President Felix Tshisekedi’s victory in a turbulent re-election bid. The announcement sparked immediate controversy, with opposition leaders dismissing the results as fraudulent.
Provisional results showed Tshisekedi securing a landslide 73% of the vote, a figure met with skepticism by his rivals. The US, adopting a cautious approach, stated that it was “closely following the process” and stopped short of congratulating the incumbent president.
“Any election disputes should be resolved peacefully and in accordance with Congolese electoral law,” declared a State Department spokesperson. “We call on the relevant authorities to ensure any complaints are handled in a fair and transparent manner.”
The DRC’s Constitutional Court is expected to finalize the results on January 10th. Moise Katumbi, a wealthy businessman and Tshisekedi’s closest challenger, garnered 18% of the vote. He, along with eight other opposition candidates, signed a joint statement rejecting the outcome and demanding a fresh poll.
Post-election tensions are a recurring theme in the DRC, a nation rich in minerals but plagued by poverty. Analysts expressed surprise at Tshisekedi’s seemingly inflated vote share, exceeding their pre-election predictions.
Over 40 million of the country’s 100 million inhabitants were registered to vote on December 20th in a multi-layered election encompassing the presidency, national and regional legislative seats, and municipal council positions. Voting was officially extended by a day due to logistical issues and continued for several days in remote areas, raising concerns about transparency.
The coming weeks will be crucial for the DRC as it navigates the potential for election-related unrest and navigates the international community’s response to the disputed results. The path forward for the country’s fragile democracy hinges on a transparent and peaceful resolution of the electoral impasse.
