The presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to attract worldwide attention. Partial results indicate that the outgoing president, Félix Tshisekedi, is in the lead with more than 80% of the votes. However, these results only concern just under two million voters out of the nearly 44 million people registered.
Félix Tshisekedi, who has been in power since the beginning of 2019 and is running for a second five-year term, is closely followed by Moïse Katumbi, businessman and former governor of Katanga province, with a little more than 15% of the votes. Martin Fayulu is in third place, with around 1.2% of the vote. Other candidates, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege, scored below 1%.
The electoral commission (Céni) has not yet communicated the participation rate, but has decided to reveal the results gradually since Friday. In addition to the presidential election, legislative, provincial and local elections also took place on the same day, the results of which will be published later.
Since the start of the electoral process, opposition candidates have denounced the “chaos” and “irregularities” which marred the vote. Some plan to demonstrate next Wednesday, while others are demanding an outright cancellation of the elections. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, archbishop of Kinshasa, described the elections as a “gigantic mess” during his Christmas mass on Sunday evening.
In addition to suspicions raised by opponents, the electoral campaign was complicated by the security situation in eastern DRC, where tension has skyrocketed over the past two years with the resurgence of the M23 rebellion, supported by Rwanda.
It is important to closely follow the evolution of this crucial election for the DRC, a country rich in natural resources but where poverty remains worrying. Political stability is essential to ensure a better future for the Congolese and promote the country’s economic development. We will be sure to keep you informed of the full results and reactions that emerge in the coming days. Stay connected!