Court confirms Tshisekedi winner of DR Congo presidential election

Court confirms Tshisekedi winner of DR Congo presidential election

Congo’s Constitutional Court has confirmed opposition leader, Felix Tshisekedi authentic winner of last month presidential election.

Tshisekedi’s win became controversial after another opposition candidate, Martin Fayulu challenged the result declaration, demanding recounting of the ballot.

Kenya’s and South Africa’s presidents, Uhuru Kenyatta and Cyril Ramaphosa respectively   have congratulated Tshisekedi for winning last month’s presidential poll, despite the African Union saying it had “serious doubts” about the result.

The southern African regional group, Sadc, has also welcomed Tshisekedi’s victory saying that all Congolese should support the president-elect in his bid to maintain “unity, peace and stability”.

The African Union, which was supposed to send a delegation to the DR Congo on Monday, has now postponed the trip.

On Friday, it had called on the court to refrain from ruling on the result of the vote.

Fayulu said his supporters should organise “non-violent protests all over the country to defend its sovereignty”.

The court said Fayulu had failed to prove that the election commission had announced false results.

It went on to declare Felix Tshisekedi “president of the Democratic Republic of Congo by simple majority”.

He is now expected to be sworn in within 10 days.