The latest news from Democratic Republic of Congo indicates that Felix Tshisekedi the leading opposition leader/candidate has won presidential poll replacing President Kabila.
Felix Tshisekedi was declared by the electoral commission chairperson paving the way for the country’s first handover of power in 18 years since Kabila took over.
“Having gained… 38.57 percent of the vote, Felix Tshisekedi is provisionally declared the elected president of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Corneille Nangaa, the head of the Independent National Election Commission (CENI).
The Democratic Republic of Congo has been in the grip of a two-year-old crisis over the succession of President Joseph Kabila, who said last year he would step down after nearly two decades in power.
The candidate he hand-picked to succeed him, loyalist, former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, came third in the poll.
The other main opposition candidate, former oil executive Martin Fayulu – who was tipped as favourite in the few pre-election opinion polls – came second, official results showed.
According to the initial timetable set out by the CENI, the definitive results are due on January 15 with the swearing-in of the new president three days later.
The result could still be appealed in the Constitutional Court
We shall keep you posted
