DRC president, Felix Tshisekedi, re-elected

Following a controversial poll in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, president Felix Tshisekedi, the incumbent leader of the mineral resources-rich nation, has been re-elected for another term in office.
The electoral commission said he got over 73 per cent of the vote in the election decided on December 20…

President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been re-elected for a second term after receiving more than 73% of the vote in a December 20 election.

The country’s election commission CENI announced on Sunday barely 24 hours after it pledged its commitment to release final results of the contested presidential poll.

The announcement of the results comes at a time when opposition intensified their concerns over how the poll was conducted.

Logistical difficulties, an extension of election day, and non-transparent vote count have fueled a controversy that threatens to further destabilize the world’s leading producer of cobalt and other valuable industrial metals.

Announcing the results in the capital Kinshasa, Denis Kadima, head of CENI, declared that the incumbent leader, Felix Tshisekedi had received more than 13 million out of over 18 million valid votes, adding that turnout was more than 43%.

While reacting to the outcome of the poll, President Tshisekedi commended his supporters for their unwavering dedication while promising to deliver lives-changing programmes in his second term.

The oppositions have 48 hours to contest the outcome of the results at the post election tribunal.

Leading opposition figure, Moise Katumbi, who came second with 18%, downplayed his will to challenge the results, citing an alleged lack of independence of state institutions.

Oppositions have also vowed to rally against the outcome of the election while calling for a rerun.