The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has declared its intention to block an opposition demonstration scheduled for Wednesday, aimed at protesting the controversial December 20 election. Prominent presidential candidates such as Martin Fayulu and Denis Mukwege have criticized the election results and called for a new vote. They had planned to march in front of the electoral commission in the capital city, Kinshasa, to voice their grievances.
However, the Congolese government swiftly moved to prevent the protest from taking place. Interior Minister Peter Kazadi announced that the march would not be allowed and urged the opposition to address their concerns through legal channels. Kazadi stated, "If there are challenges, you need to bring them before the court."
In response to the government's decision, the opposition candidates are currently in discussions with the governor of Kinshasa province to discuss their options regarding the planned protest. They are expected to make a statement on the matter later today.
Despite the relatively peaceful conduct of the election, tensions are rising in the Democratic Republic of Congo over allegations of vote rigging. Many opponents of the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi rejected the election outcome due to issues such as the delayed deployment of voting kits, which resulted in the polls being extended over several days.
President Tshisekedi currently has about 79% of the 3 million votes that have been counted so far, according to the electoral commission's announcement on Monday. Businessman and soccer-team owner Moise Katumbi is in second place with approximately 17% of the ballots. It is estimated that about 44 million people were registered to vote, although the voter turnout is expected to be significantly lower.
To maintain order and security, Congo has deployed security personnel across the country. Thousands of soldiers have been sent to the mineral-rich Katanga region, known for its copper and cobalt reserves, where Katumbi previously served as governor. The security forces will be present until the election results are announced, which is expected to be by December 31, and for several days thereafter, stated Interior Minister Kazadi.