News: Preliminary results of the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) began to be revealed on Friday after chaotic elections that stretched over several days but which authorities described as successful.
For the first time, Congolese living abroad were able to vote in five test countries (Belgium, Canada, France, South Africa and the United States). The number of registered voters in these countries was around 13,000, out of a total of around 44 million.
The current president, Félix Tshisekedi, obtained around 80% of the diaspora votes, according to the first announcements from the Electoral Commission (Céni). Provisional results for the 26 provinces of the DRC will be announced in the coming days.
These results represent a tiny proportion of the total votes cast, but they indicate a provisional lead for incumbent President Félix Tshisekedi, who is running for a second term.
However, massive delays and bureaucratic chaos marred the vote, and some polling stations were unable to open at all.
In a statement, the Electoral Commission said no polling stations were allowed to open on Friday.
However, some places continued to vote Friday, officials said, mostly in the most remote parts of the vast country, the size of Western Europe.
“Everything should be finished by this afternoon at the latest,” territory administrator Sammy Kalonji told AFP.
Didi Manara of the Ceni said that “at least 97%” of the approximately 75,000 polling stations in the DRC had been able to open.
Given the size of the country, this represented a “miracle”, he added.
In a preliminary statement Friday, the Carter Center, which observed the election, said there were “serious irregularities” at 21 polling stations out of 109 it visited. The vote had gone “relatively well” in the other 88.
In 24 polling stations, its observers identified technical problems with electronic voting devices, added this group based in the United States.
While the Congolese government acknowledged the delays late Wednesday, it praised the efforts of voters and the Electoral Commission.
The results of the presidential election in the Congolese diaspora were published Friday evening.
The CENI will begin announcing provisional results for the 26 provinces of the DRC on Saturday.
About 44 million Congolese out of a total population of 100 million were registered to vote, and more than 100,000 candidates were running for various positions.
Tshisekedi, 60, is considered the favorite in the first-past-the-post presidential vote, partly because he faces a divided opposition.
The main opposition candidates are gynecologist Denis Mukwege, 68, winner of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize, business tycoon and former provincial governor Moise Katumbi, 58, and former oil executive Martin Fayulu, aged 67.
They all criticized the messiness of the election and warned of the risk of electoral fraud.
There are fears that tensions will escalate when the results are announced.
The DRC is a turbulent country with a long history of authoritarian rule and conflict.
The United States on Thursday reiterated its call for transparent and fair elections in the country.
“We will not hesitate to denounce irregularities,” said a spokesperson for the US State Department.