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| Congo election: Tshisekedi's surprise victory rejected as 'electoral coup' | Congo election: Tshisekedi's surprise victory rejected as 'electoral coup' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Official election results in the Democratic Republic of the Congo do not reflect polling station data, the country’s respected Catholic church has said, as the runner-up denounced what he described as an “electoral coup” and fears grew of protests that could lead to violence. | |
| Felix Tshisekedi, the leader of DRC’s main opposition party, was declared the surprise winner of the 30 December presidential election in the vast central African country in the early hours of Thursday. | |
| The result theoretically means the first electoral transfer of power in 59 years of independence in the DRC, but was deeply controversial because another opposition figure, Martin Fayulu, had held a healthy lead in pre-election polling. | |
| It has also surprised some observers who believed authorities would ensure victory for the government candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, who was hand-picked by outgoing president Joseph Kabila as his successor. | It has also surprised some observers who believed authorities would ensure victory for the government candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, who was hand-picked by outgoing president Joseph Kabila as his successor. |
| Official figures published by the electoral commission gave Tshisekedi 38%, four points ahead of Fayulu, even though pre-election polls had put Fayulu at least 20 points ahead of Tshisekedi. | Official figures published by the electoral commission gave Tshisekedi 38%, four points ahead of Fayulu, even though pre-election polls had put Fayulu at least 20 points ahead of Tshisekedi. |
| In a statement the church said the result did not match its tally from 40,000 poll observers. Vote tallies compiled by the church found Fayulu clearly won the election, two diplomats told Reuters. | |
| Fayulu, a respected former business executive, immediately rejected the result, which he called an “electoral coup”. “Where did the extra seven million votes come from [for Tshisekedi’s victory]? In 2019, we refuse that the victory of the people be stolen once more,” he said. “These results have nothing to do with the truth at the ballot box,” he told Radio France International. | |
| Barnabe Kikaya Bin Karubi, one of Kabila’s top advisers, said he accepted the loss. “Of course we are not happy as our candidate [Shadary] lost, but the Congolese people have chosen and democracy has triumphed,” Kikaya told Reuters. | Barnabe Kikaya Bin Karubi, one of Kabila’s top advisers, said he accepted the loss. “Of course we are not happy as our candidate [Shadary] lost, but the Congolese people have chosen and democracy has triumphed,” Kikaya told Reuters. |
| Tshisekedi paid his respects to Kabila, whom he described as “an important partner … in democratic transition in our country”. Speaking to thousands of cheering supporters in the capital, Kinshasa, Tshisekedi said he would be the president “of all Congolese”. | Tshisekedi paid his respects to Kabila, whom he described as “an important partner … in democratic transition in our country”. Speaking to thousands of cheering supporters in the capital, Kinshasa, Tshisekedi said he would be the president “of all Congolese”. |
| The Democratic Republic of the Congo's sheer size, its political history and its myriad problems are all reasons why observers have followed its election so closely. | The Democratic Republic of the Congo's sheer size, its political history and its myriad problems are all reasons why observers have followed its election so closely. |
| The vast, resource-rich country, with a population of 80 million spread over an area the size of western Europe, has never known a peaceful transition of power since its independence from Belgium in 1960. | The vast, resource-rich country, with a population of 80 million spread over an area the size of western Europe, has never known a peaceful transition of power since its independence from Belgium in 1960. |
| It remains one of the poorest places in the world, racked by war and disease and with massive inequality. In the east, where scores of militia commanders battle for control of mines, an outbreak of Ebola has killed more than 300. Countrywide an estimated 4.3 million people are displaced. | It remains one of the poorest places in the world, racked by war and disease and with massive inequality. In the east, where scores of militia commanders battle for control of mines, an outbreak of Ebola has killed more than 300. Countrywide an estimated 4.3 million people are displaced. |
| It is still recovering from a civil war triggered by the fall of the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997, in which 4 million people died. Joseph Kabila has been in power as president since his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila, the victor of that conflict, was shot dead in 2001. | It is still recovering from a civil war triggered by the fall of the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997, in which 4 million people died. Joseph Kabila has been in power as president since his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila, the victor of that conflict, was shot dead in 2001. |
| The country’s problems have been exacerbated by the refusal of Kabila to leave power after the end of his second mandate two years ago, which is why December’s much-delayed election was invested with so much hope and trepidation. | The country’s problems have been exacerbated by the refusal of Kabila to leave power after the end of his second mandate two years ago, which is why December’s much-delayed election was invested with so much hope and trepidation. |
| Chaos at polling stations on the day of the vote dampened hopes that the election would bring a measure of political stability. The announcement by the electoral commission on 10 January that Felix Tshisekedi had won confounded polling that had put another opposition figure well in front and raised fears of a backroom deal ultimately keeping Kabila in power. | Chaos at polling stations on the day of the vote dampened hopes that the election would bring a measure of political stability. The announcement by the electoral commission on 10 January that Felix Tshisekedi had won confounded polling that had put another opposition figure well in front and raised fears of a backroom deal ultimately keeping Kabila in power. |
| Fayulu’s supporters had long feared Kabila would either rig the vote in favour of Shadary or do a power-sharing deal with Tshisekedi, head of the DRC’s main opposition party. | Fayulu’s supporters had long feared Kabila would either rig the vote in favour of Shadary or do a power-sharing deal with Tshisekedi, head of the DRC’s main opposition party. |
| Riot police were deployed outside the offices of the DRC’s election commission and elsewhere in Kinshasa. | Riot police were deployed outside the offices of the DRC’s election commission and elsewhere in Kinshasa. |
| Following an election itself delayed by two years, the announcement of results was postponed by a week. The government said this would allow more time to overcome logistical challenges in a country of 80 million inhabitants spread over an area the size of western Europe with almost no paved roads. | Following an election itself delayed by two years, the announcement of results was postponed by a week. The government said this would allow more time to overcome logistical challenges in a country of 80 million inhabitants spread over an area the size of western Europe with almost no paved roads. |
| Adeline Van Houtte, research analyst for west Africa at the Economist intelligence Unit, said the delay raised suspicions that the government wanted time to negotiate a backroom deal with Tshisekedi. | Adeline Van Houtte, research analyst for west Africa at the Economist intelligence Unit, said the delay raised suspicions that the government wanted time to negotiate a backroom deal with Tshisekedi. |
| “A Tshisekedi presidency would be the least bad alternative to a Shadary victory for the regime as it would put a veil of legitimacy on the electoral process and would be more manageable than a Fayulu presidency,” Van Houtte said. | “A Tshisekedi presidency would be the least bad alternative to a Shadary victory for the regime as it would put a veil of legitimacy on the electoral process and would be more manageable than a Fayulu presidency,” Van Houtte said. |
| Robert Besseling, executive director of risk consultancy EXX Africa, said Kabila did not want to risk announcing Shadary as the winner, which would have triggered violent protests and international condemnation. | Robert Besseling, executive director of risk consultancy EXX Africa, said Kabila did not want to risk announcing Shadary as the winner, which would have triggered violent protests and international condemnation. |
| “Instead, he chose to split the opposition by creating a power-sharing deal Tshisekedi, … Kabila will be able to influence Tshisekedi, who now owes his ascendancy to power to Kabila’s control of the electoral commission, Besseling said. | “Instead, he chose to split the opposition by creating a power-sharing deal Tshisekedi, … Kabila will be able to influence Tshisekedi, who now owes his ascendancy to power to Kabila’s control of the electoral commission, Besseling said. |
| The last two elections in 2006 and 2011, both of which were won by Kabila, were marred by bloodshed. | |
| The church’s rejection of the results will encourage Fayulu and supporters to launch a campaign of protest that would exacerbate the DRC’s chronic instability. The church will have to balance a commitment to transparency and accountability with the deep desire for stability among many citizens in the DRC. | |
| ‘He will bring light into our darkness’: DR Congo pins hope on a new leader | ‘He will bring light into our darkness’: DR Congo pins hope on a new leader |
| If Tshisekedi’s victory is confirmed in the next 10 days by the constitutional court, he will be the first leader to takes power via the ballot box in the DRC since prime minister Patrice Lumumba shortly after the DRC won its independence from Belgium in 1960. Lumumba was toppled in a coup and killed four months later. | If Tshisekedi’s victory is confirmed in the next 10 days by the constitutional court, he will be the first leader to takes power via the ballot box in the DRC since prime minister Patrice Lumumba shortly after the DRC won its independence from Belgium in 1960. Lumumba was toppled in a coup and killed four months later. |
| Kabila, 47, has ruled since the 2001 assassination of his father, Laurent Kabila, who overthrew long-serving dictator Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997. | Kabila, 47, has ruled since the 2001 assassination of his father, Laurent Kabila, who overthrew long-serving dictator Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997. |
| The DRC suffers from widespread corruption, continuing conflict, endemic disease, and some of the world’s highest levels of sexual violence and malnutrition. It is also rich in minerals, including those crucial to the world’s smartphones and electric cars. | The DRC suffers from widespread corruption, continuing conflict, endemic disease, and some of the world’s highest levels of sexual violence and malnutrition. It is also rich in minerals, including those crucial to the world’s smartphones and electric cars. |
| Kabila’s second electoral mandate expired in 2016 and he only reluctantly called new elections under pressure from regional powers. The constitution forbade him from standing again and critics claimed he hoped to rule through Shadary, who has no political base of his own. However this meant that Shadary’s campaign never gained momentum in a country where there is deep resentment of an often incompetent and self-serving elite. | Kabila’s second electoral mandate expired in 2016 and he only reluctantly called new elections under pressure from regional powers. The constitution forbade him from standing again and critics claimed he hoped to rule through Shadary, who has no political base of his own. However this meant that Shadary’s campaign never gained momentum in a country where there is deep resentment of an often incompetent and self-serving elite. |
| The opposition was weakened by internal arguments and the exclusion by the electoral commission of two political heavyweights: Jean-Pierre Bemba, a former warlord, and Moïse Katumbi, a popular tycoon. | The opposition was weakened by internal arguments and the exclusion by the electoral commission of two political heavyweights: Jean-Pierre Bemba, a former warlord, and Moïse Katumbi, a popular tycoon. |
| Tshisekedi’s father, Etienne, was a famous opposition leader under Mobutu. He died in 2017 and his son has inherited his party. Critics say Tshisekedi, 55, is unproven, inexperienced and lacks the charisma of his father. “His father was a man of the country. The son is very limited,” Valentin Mubake, a former secretary-general of Tshisekedi’s Union for Democracy and Social Progress told the Guardian last month. | Tshisekedi’s father, Etienne, was a famous opposition leader under Mobutu. He died in 2017 and his son has inherited his party. Critics say Tshisekedi, 55, is unproven, inexperienced and lacks the charisma of his father. “His father was a man of the country. The son is very limited,” Valentin Mubake, a former secretary-general of Tshisekedi’s Union for Democracy and Social Progress told the Guardian last month. |
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