
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi claimed a landslide victory in Sunday’s presidential election, securing a second term despite vehement opposition criticism that the poll was a “sham.” Provisional results announced by the electoral commission, CENI, awarded Tshisekedi 73% of the vote with a 43% turnout.
Jubilant supporters braved the rain in Kinshasa to witness the president, flanked by his family, address them from his campaign headquarters. “I have been re-elected president of all Congolese,” Tshisekedi declared, vowing to exercise his second mandate with openness.
Moise Katumbi, a prominent businessman and former governor, placed second with around 18%. The Constitutional Court is expected to confirm the results on January 10th.
Tshisekedi’s first electoral victory in 2019 was marred by controversies and allegations of rigging. This year’s poll saw a rematch with Martin Fayulu, who claims he was robbed of victory in 2018. Fayulu garnered a mere 5%, while Nobel Peace laureate Denis Mukwege and 18 other candidates secured negligible shares.
Nine opposition candidates, including Mukwege, Fayulu, and Katumbi, condemned the election as fraudulent and demanded a rerun. Fayulu called the results “a masquerade” and vowed to resist their acceptance.
Political analyst Tresor Kibangula acknowledged Tshisekedi’s campaign success but raised concerns about irregularities observed in some regions, questioning their impact on the outcome.
The vast, mineral-rich nation, home to over 100 million people, witnessed voting extended beyond December 20th due to operational issues. Observers, including a Catholic-Protestant mission, documented numerous irregularities potentially compromising the vote’s integrity.
With tensions simmering, 15 embassies urged restraint, while authorities pledged to prevent unrest and emphasized recourse to the Constitutional Court for resolving disputes. However, opposition leaders maintain a deep distrust in both the court and CENI, accusing them of government subservience.
As Kinshasa and Lubumbashi witnessed heightened security on Sunday, the future of DR Congo’s volatile political landscape remains uncertain. Tshisekedi’s re-election, while celebrated by his supporters, faces intense scrutiny and potential challenges from an embittered opposition, raising concerns about potential instability in the coming months.