A coalition of opposition candidates in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced plans to hold a joint protest in the capital city of Kinshasa next week. The protest is in response to the disputed general election held on Wednesday, which saw delays and an extension of voting that has raised concerns about the credibility of the election. The opposition candidates aim to protest against alleged irregularities during the voting process and the extension, stating that the elections were a "sham". The DRC, with its valuable reserves of cobalt and copper, is already grappling with widespread poverty and a security crisis in its eastern region, making the outcome of the election even more critical.
Wednesday's election was marred by delays, prompting an extension of the voting period. This decision has been criticized by opposition candidates and independent observers, who argue that it compromises the legitimacy of the vote. The election commission (CENI) has acknowledged the delays but denies that they undermine the overall credibility of the election.
The joint protest, scheduled for December 27, will be led by five presidential candidates and will address the alleged irregularities and the extension of the voting period. Jean-Marc Kabunda, a representative of candidate Martin Fayulu, shared the letter to the governor of Kinshasa announcing the protest on social media platform X. The opposition candidates believe that the irregularities and extension raise serious doubts about the integrity of the election process.
Meanwhile, foreign embassies in Kinshasa, including Germany and France, have released a joint statement calling for calm and restraint from all sides during this critical period. They emphasize the importance of allowing the election process to unfold peacefully and urge political actors and their supporters to express their concerns calmly.
The election campaign in the DRC has been fraught with violence, with at least 19 people losing their lives in election-related incidents. The opposition and observers have highlighted various issues that they argue could enable fraud, but these allegations have been denied by CENI and the presidency.
Moise Katumbi, a prominent opposition candidate, has expressed concern about the transparency of the results compilation process. Katumbi's campaign spokesperson, Herve Diakese, stated that there is a lack of transparency and an uncontrolled disorder in the process. While Katumbi's team is not directly organizing the protest, they support any constitutional initiatives aimed at resisting electoral fraud.
In a further setback, voting has still not taken place in five remote areas of the eastern Lubero territory due to the delay in delivering election materials caused by rain. These centers, accessible only by air or foot, are now expected to hold voting on Sunday if couriers can make it through the night.
The Congolese opposition's joint protest and the concerns expressed by foreign embassies highlight the fragile nature of the election process in the DRC. As the provisional results are expected to be announced by December 31, the country awaits the outcome that will determine whether incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi or one of his 18 challengers secures victory in this closely-watched election.