Title: Overwhelming victory of Félix Tshisekedi in the 2023 presidential elections in the DRC: Analysis of preliminary results
Introduction :
The partial results of the 2023 presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI). These results grant an overwhelming victory to the outgoing President, Félix Tshisekedi. In this article, we will analyze the trends that emerge from these results and the reactions provoked by this outcome.
Results in favor of Félix Tshisekedi:
Out of 179 electoral districts, 173 have already published their results, as well as those of the Congolese diaspora. Out of 9,333,562 valid votes cast, candidate Félix Tshisekedi obtained 77.3% of the votes, or 7,219,816 votes. He is followed by Moïse Katumbi with 15.7% of the votes. These results confirm Tshisekedi’s dominance in this presidential election.
The preliminary analysis of the CENCO-ECC MOE:
The Electoral Observation Mission of the Catholic and Protestant Churches (MOE CENCO-ECC) has published a preliminary report on these elections. Thanks to its parallel vote counting system, it confirmed the victory of Félix Tshisekedi with more than half of the votes cast. However, the CENCO-ECC MOE also noted several irregularities that could affect the integrity of the results in certain constituencies.
Reactions and protests:
These preliminary results have provoked various reactions, notably from certain opposition candidates who accuse the regime in place and the CENI of having prepared a “sham election”. They question the legitimacy of the electoral process and demand thorough investigations into reported irregularities.
Responsibility of institutions:
The MOE CENCO-ECC calls on the CENI, the Constitutional Court and other competent courts and tribunals to take their responsibilities and draw the consequences of these irregularities on the results of the presidential election. It is crucial that the competent institutions act with complete transparency and impartiality to guarantee the credibility of the electoral process.
Conclusion :
The preliminary results of the 2023 presidential elections in the DRC grant a landslide victory to Félix Tshisekedi. However, irregularities were noted, which raise questions about the integrity of the electoral process. It is now essential that relevant institutions investigate these irregularities and take appropriate measures to ensure the transparency and legitimacy of the electoral process in the DRC.