Congo still calm after poll victor confirmed

THE DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo’s capital was calm yesterday, with residents attending church after the Constitutional Court confirmed the presidential election victory of Felix Tshisekedi.

It was not clear if the population would heed runner-up Martin Fayulu’s call for non-violent protests against the court ruling.

Mr Tshisekedi said that the court’s decision to reject claims of electoral fraud and declare him president was a victory for the entire country.

“It is Congo that won,” said Mr Tshisekedi, speaking to his supporters after the court decision.

“It is not the victory of one camp against another. I am engaged in a campaign to reconcile all Congolese.

“The Congo that we are going to form will not be a Congo of division, hatred or tribalism. It will be a reconciled Congo, a strong Congo that will be focused on development, peace and security.”

Supporters of his UDPS party celebrated the victory into the early hours in the capital Kinshasa.

But Mr Fayulu’s declaration that he is Congo’s “only legitimate president” and his call for the Congolese people to peacefully protest against what he called a “constitutional coup d’etat” threatened to keep the country in a political crisis that has been simmering since the December 30 elections.

The court rejected Mr Fayulu’s request for a recount of the vote, affirming Mr Tshisekedi won with more than seven million votes.