In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, President Félix Tshisekedi was sworn in this Saturday, January 20, for a second term. The current president was widely re-elected in December.
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President Félix Tshisekedi takes the reins of the Central African country for the second time. This Saturday, January 20, he will begin a new five-year term in the midst of a tense political climate. The president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, emerged largely victorious from the December elections, ones that were criticized by the opposition.
As at the launch of his election campaign, 'Fatshi, 60, chose the Martyrs Stadium, the largest facility in Kinshasa, the capital, with a capacity of 80,000 people, for his inauguration.
The venue was packed with supporters waving small flags, government officials, African heads of state and other foreign envoys, including from the United States, China and France.
“Consolidate” the “achievements”
His first inauguration, in January 2019, when he succeeded Joseph Kabila (2001-2018) after a highly controversial election, was in the gardens of the Palace of the Nation, a solemn place where official ceremonies are usually held.
Son of the historic opponent Étienne Tshisekedi, who died two years earlier, he assumed the leadership of a country rich in minerals, but with a largely poor population. Then, he promised to improve the living conditions of Congolese and end 25 years of armed violence.
He did not meet all his objectives. However, he campaigned—with significant resources—on “the achievements” of his first term, such as free primary education, and asked voters to give him a second term to “consolidate them.”
The presidential elections took place at the same time as the legislative, provincial and local elections, a quadruple scrutiny that began as planned on December 20, but due to multiple logistical problems was extended for several days.
Finally, in a single-round election and facing around twenty other candidates, he won with more than 73% of the votes.
Far behind were Moïse Katumbi, former governor of Katanga (southeast), with 18% of the votes; followed by another opponent, Martin Fayulu, with approximately 5%. Dr. Denis Mukwege, Nobel Peace Prize winner for his actions in favor of women victims of war rape, only officially obtained 0.22% of the votes.
Opponents rejected the results and called for the elections to be annulled. A demonstration was planned for December 27, but was banned by authorities and put down by police.
“Recover the territories”
Since then, accusations of fraud and other “electoral irregularities” have continued and fears of violence persist in a country with a very troubled political past.
On Thursday, three opponents, including Moïse Katumbi and Martin Fayulu, reiterated their call for the annulment of the elections and asked Congolese to express their discontent this Saturday, the day of the inauguration.
The full results of the presidential elections were announced on December 31 by the electoral commission (CENI) and confirmed on January 9 by the Constitutional Court.
Meanwhile, the CENI, itself acknowledging fraud, acts of vandalism, intimidation and illegal use of voting machines, annulled the vote in two constituencies and for 82 candidates for the general elections, including three ministers.
On January 14, the CENI published the provisional results of the legislative elections, which also caused disputes even within the presidential camp, but outlined a majority for the “Sacred Union” formed around Félix Tshisekedi.
These results are published while fighting in the east of the country, which had a truce during the elections, intensifies again between the Army and the M23 group, backed by neighboring Rwanda.
Since mid-December, a Southern African Community (SADC) force has been deployed in the region, succeeding an East African force dismissed by Kinshasa for alleged complacency toward the rebels.
This week, a Congolese official said he counted on her to help the Democratic Republic of the Congo “recover the occupied territories.”
This article was adapted from its original French version.
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