By Badylon Kawanda Bakiman*
In a historic moment, 60 -year-old and candidate to his own succession, Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo was officially proclaimed re-elected as President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday, December 31, 2023, for a second five-year presidential term with 73.34% of the votes ahead of his main challenger Moïse Katumbi who won 18%.
Dénis Kadima, President of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), delivered these figures in front of all the candidates and a large audience, while explaining all the meanders that surrounded these elections organized within the constitutional deadline.
Kadima reported that, with 13,215,366 million votes cast out of 18,018,916 million voters, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi came out on top in 19 of the country’s 26 provinces: Kongo-Central, Kinshasa, Kwango, Maï-Ndombe, Équateur, Tshuapa, Mongala, Sud-Ubangi, Nord-Ubangi, Bas-Uélé, Haut-Uélé, Ituri, Tshopo, Sankuru, Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu, Kasaï, Kasaï Oriental, Kasaï Central and Lomami. The turnout was 43%.
With this landslide victory, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi becomes the first Congolese President to be re-elected with over 70% of votes validly cast, since the first democratic elections were held in 2006; he is also the third Head of State to serve more than one term as President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, after Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, and Joseph Kabila.
It is also the first time that DRC elections have been held abroad since the country gained independence on June 30, 1960.In five countries chosen by the CENI, namely France, the USA, Canada, Belgium and South Africa, Congolese were able to participate in the elections.
“This victory is a victory to take up our challenges of national interest, notably the challenge of security, the challenge of employment, the challenge of interconnecting our country, the challenge of modernizing our country, in short the challenge of accelerating our country’s march towards achieving and maximizing its highest potential (…) Every Congolese will have the opportunity to prosper with the help of a clear vision,” declared President Tshisekedi shortly after the results were announced.
According to him, December 20, 2023, consecrated the patriotism of the Congolese people in a great step forward. “You mobilized as one man for these elections. The aim is to consolidate our young democracy”, he added, urging the population to beware of “the enemies of democracy and progress”.
Oppositions Calls for Nullification and Democratic Actions
In a statement read out on Sunday December 31, 2023, opposition figures including Martin Fayulu, Moïse Katumbi and Denis Mukwege called for the cancellation of the general elections organized by the current CENI. These opponents called for new elections to be organized with other CENI players.
In addition, they rejected all the published results because, they explained, this institution supporting democracy had set up a system of fraud to favor incumbent President Félix Tshisekedi.
To this end, they promised not to appeal to the Constitutional Court to contest the results, but instead to organize a series of actions to obtain the annulment of the election.
“Mr Kadima and the CENI have just committed the greatest sham. Everyone knows that Mr. Tshisekedi Tshilombo can in no way win elections organized in the DRC on a regular basis. That’s why we reject all the results. We need new elections with a new CENI”, insisted Martin Fayulu, one of the opposition signatories of the declaration.
Moise Katumbi Chapwe calls for peaceful and democratic actions.
In a statement made public on January 3, 2024, Moise Katumbi Chapwe, the runner up in the December 20, 2023, elections called on the Congolese people to take peaceful and democratic action.
“Congolese people let us hold steadfast! Let us stay mobilized! The time for action has come. Through peaceful and democratic actions, we will resist and reclaim our most legitimate right, that of defeating fraud and taking back control of our destiny with the leaders of our choice’, He says.
‘’Our Constitution urges us to oppose any group of individuals who want to seize power and to keep it despite the Congolese people‘s expressed will. For our dignity and the future of our children, we must use all means that it puts at our disposal to refuse fraud and the installation of the dictatorship’, He added.
According to him, no one should be an accomplice to this electoral fraud.
Logistical Hurdles and Reactions.
A total of 75,400 polling stations were set up throughout the country, but in three territories, two in North Kivu (east of the country) and one in Maï-Ndombé (South-West), it was not possible to vote due to insecurity. Electoral commission teams were unable to register voters.
Scheduled for Wednesday December 20, 2023, these elections continued until Sunday 24 following several problems encountered. Delays in the deployment of materials in several polling stations; voting machines that the Electoral Commission called “Electronic Voting Device” (DEV) broke down or did not work at the start of operations; late start-up of voting; illiteracy among many voters, etc.
In Masimanimba, one of the territories of Kwilu province, more than 300 kilometers from the capital Kinshasa, a vehicle belonging to a national deputy candidate of the Union sacrée de la nation was seized on Wednesday December 20, 2023. The vehicle contained several voting machines and empty ballot papers. In anger, the population burned the ballot papers and voting machines found in the vehicle.
Constitutional Court Confirms Tshisekedi’s Victory
24 hours after taking under advisement the petitions requesting the annulment of the last presidential election, the Constitutional Court handed down its ruling on Tuesday January 9, confirming the results of the Independent National Electoral Commission proclaiming Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi President of the Republic.
Félix Tshisekedi, the independent candidate in the presidential election, is now credited with 73.47% of the votes cast (13,058,962 votes), declared the Constitutional Court, which in turn annulled all the votes cast in the constituencies of Yakoma (Nord Ubangi) and Masimanimba (Kwilu) as announced by the Election Commission for the legislative elections.
Earlier, the Court declared the petition of Théodore Ngoy, a presidential candidate, admissible but unfounded. Mr. Ehetshe Mpala David’s petition was in turn declared inadmissible for lack of standing. These two cases seeking the annulment of the elections were taken under advisement at the end of the hearing on Monday January 8, 2024, in the Marcel Lihau room of the Court of Cassation.
International Reactions
In a press release issued after the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Tuesday January 9, 2024, Hadja Lahbib, Belgium’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, encouraged Félix Tshisekedi to pursue his efforts in the areas of good governance, security sector reform and improving the business climate.
“President Tshisekedi faces many challenges in his second term. Belgium wishes to encourage the President to initiate and pursue efforts in the field of good governance and human rights, whether in terms of gender equality, the fight against corruption, reform of the security and justice sectors, meeting social and environmental challenges, or improving the business climate”, the press release said.
“The United States congratulates Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo on his re-election to a second term as President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We also congratulate the Congolese people for their commitment to making their voices heard throughout the electoral process. “Now the important task of building national cohesion calls for leadership, accountability, and inclusivity at all levels,” read a statement from Mathew Miller US State Department Spokesperson.
“Regrettably, as noted by domestic and international observation missions, insecurity, logistical issues, and preparatory shortcomings created significant delays and barriers to voting on election day. For many, incidents of fraud and corruption raised doubts about the integrity of the results. We encourage the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to ensure greater transparency regarding the tabulation of remaining results. The United States also strongly urges Congolese authorities to launch a comprehensive review of the electoral process, investigate and hold accountable those who attempted to undermine the will of the people, and, in consultation with stakeholders, act on recommendations to improve future elections,” the statement went further. Despite the observations, the statement from the State Department affirmed that the United States looks forward to expanding its partnership with the DRC government and working with Congolese people across the nation to advance mutual interests.
“Japan considers that the election was held with the strong will of the people of the DRC towards the consolidation of democracy in the midst of various difficulties and commends the country which conducted the elections with firm determination. On this basis, Japan hopes that, under the strong leadership of President Tshisekedi, further efforts will be made to consolidate and strengthen social cohesion and democratic processes in the DRC through dialogues,” said a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Japan looks forward to further strengthening its friendly and cooperative relations with the DRC, based on the good relationship of trust that have been nurtured through cooperation in various fields, including the support for the consolidation of peace in the Eastern region of the country, infrastructure development and strengthening social infrastructure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement concluded.
The Chairman of the African Union (AU) and President of the Comoros, as well as several African Heads of State and other high-profile personalities spontaneously welcomed the re-election of President Félix Tshisekedi. These included the Presidents of Burundi, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Congo, Togo, Egypt, Senegal, and Kenya.
“It is welcoming that the last elections in DR Congo were well-concluded. Democracy is sustainable on the continent. I congratulate President Tshisekedi on his victory. The President has demonstrated statesmanship in his handling of regional and continental matters. Africa will overcome any challenge with governance by popular consent, and democracy will thrive,” said President Ahmed Bola Tinubu of Nigeria.
On its part, while warmly congratulating the re-elected president, the AfDB pledged its continued support and partnership. “You can count on AfDB Group’s support for the accelerated development of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” declared its President Dr Akinwumi Adesina.
As Félix Tshisekedi embarks on his second term, the nation anticipates concerted efforts to address multifaceted challenges and consolidate the democratic process.
*Culled From January Issue of PAV Magazine
