DRC / Presidential Election: Tshisekedi Re-elected, Katumbi cries foul
Following the December 20, 2023 election, the opposition is increasingly making its voice heard. United in their denunciations, opposition leaders reject the results from polls that were extended in some places for nearly a week. They cite various irregularities as their arguments for not aligning with the provisional results published by the CENI.
Congolese opposition figure Moise Katumbi, in a video released this Wednesday, denounced an electoral heist during the December 20 vote.
While the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) announced provisional results declaring the incumbent President Félix Tshisekedi the winner, the opposition cries foul. Moïse Katumbi, in particular, made a forceful statement.
After forming two blocs, one around Moise Katumbi and another around Martin Fayulu, nearly 10 presidential candidates are raising their voices, demanding the annulment of these elections.
They have signed a document calling for a redo of the elections with a reconstituted electoral commission.
The signatories include Martin Fayulu, Moïse Katumbi, Denis Mukwege, Théodore Ngoy, Floribert Anzuluni, Delly Sesanga, Franck Diongo, Matata Ponyo, and Seth Kikuni.
«Since the electoral heist on December 20, of which we are all victims, we are experiencing yet another usurpation of our sovereignty», lamented Moise Katumbi.
«No one can become an accomplice to this electoral fraud, which we will never accept», continued the former governor of Katanga.
The opposition leader accuses the government of deceiving the Congolese people. Katumbi accuses the government of attempting to entrench «the lingering crisis of legitimacy that persists in our country and prevents us from realizing great hopes».
He warns, «Today, we enter another phase of our quest for freedom. Together, we must free our country from the clutches of predation, corruption, waste, and all injustices».
Note that the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) had announced a participation rate of 43.23%. «With 13,215,366 votes, or 73.34%, Mr. Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo is provisionally elected President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo», declared Denis Kadima. Tshisekedi is followed by Moise Katumbi (18%) and then Martin Fayulu (5.33%).
Jean-Robert Tchandy
