Landslide Victory Amidst Dispute: Tshisekedi Re-elected with 73% in the DRC Election

In the recent presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi has been re-elected for a second term, securing more than 73% of the vote. This result places him well ahead of his nearest rivals, businessman Moise Katumbi and former energy executive Martin Fayulu, who received over 18% and over 5% of the vote respectively.

The election process, however, has been marred by controversy and accusations of irregularities. The opposition presidential candidates have raised concerns over election day inconsistencies, including the unscheduled extension of voting beyond December 20. These irregularities have led them to question the credibility of the results and call for the annulment of the election. Despite these concerns, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) has stated that it is committed to delivering a free and fair vote.

The election's voter turnout was over 43%, according to Denis Kadima, the head of the CENI. The provisional results were announced in the capital Kinshasa, indicating that Tshisekedi had obtained over 13 million votes out of more than 18 million valid votes. In response to the release of the provisional results, a group of the main opposition presidential candidates urged their supporters to protest in the streets, demanding fresh elections with a new electoral body.

The DRC, despite its vast mineral wealth, remains one of the world's poorest countries and has a history of contentious and often disputed elections. Tshisekedi's election as president in 2018 was also accompanied by allegations of vote-rigging and fraud. The situation remains tense, with the opposition's rejection of the election results and calls for public demonstrations against what they describe as electoral fraud​​​​​​​​.