Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
NEW YORK, 2nd Dec. The Independent National Electoral Commission said on Monday that Felix Tshisekedi has been re-elected as President of Congo for a second five-year term, secured 73.34 per cent of the total votes cast in the elections held on December 20.
According to the Commission, Moise Katumbi, one of the main opposition candidates, attained the second position with about 18 per cent of the votes.
The Commission reported that over 18 million people, out of a total of 44 million registered voters, cast their ballots.
The President-elect is scheduled to be sworn in on January 20, 2024, after the Constitutional Court approves the election results on January 10.
General elections held on December 20 witnessed alleged irregularities as the Central African country was slated to elect a new President, members of the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies, along with municipal councilors.
Electoral Commission President Denis Kadima, said that the reported irregularities during the electoral process are “insignificant” and would not impact the election results.
EC stated that due to delayed arrival of voting materials and equipment, many polling stations were unable to open on time, leading to an official extension of polling to the following day.
This extension was deemed contrary to electoral law and the Constitution by some presidential candidates.
A statement by five presidential candidates, including Martin Fayulu and Denis Mukwege, prominent challengers in the race, claimed that “irregularities sufficiently attest that the election on December 20, 2023, was a sham, organized in violation of the fundamental rights of the Congolese people”.
Ahead of the announcement of election results by the electoral body, several opposition presidential candidates on Sunday called for widespread protests and demanded a redo of the election.
Tensions have been visibly escalated since the commencement of polling, akin to previous elections.
Tshisekedi ascended to power after winning the election, marked the country’s first peaceful transfer of power since its independence from Belgium in 2018.
