CONGO OPPOSITION LEADER WINS ELECTION

Result sets the stage for Congo’s first democratic transfer of power

DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo’s electoral commission yesterday declared opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi the surprise winner of last month’s chaotic presidential election, but the runner-up dismissed the outcome as an “electoral coup”.

The result sets the stage for Congo’s first democratic transfer of power, but also a tense political standoff with the potential for the kind of violence that followed the polls in 2006 and 2011 whose outcomes were contested.

Vote tallies by Congo’s Catholic church showed second place opposition candidate Martin Fayulu as victor, according to two diplomats briefed on the findings.

Tshisekedi won with 38.57 per cent of more than 18 million ballots cast, said Election Commission president Corneille Nangaa.

“Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo is declared the provisionally-elected president of Democratic Republic of Congo,” Nangaa said to a mixture of cheers and gasps.

In the neighbourhood of Limete here where Tshisekedi lives, thousands of people danced in the streets in celebration.

Some chanted that Congo had “turned the page” on the Kabila era, which began in 1997 when outgoing President Joseph Kabila’s father, Laurent, led a rebellion that overthrew longtime leader Mobutu Sese Seko. Joseph took over in 2001 when Laurent was assassinated.

Tshisekedi paid his respects to Kabila, whom he called “an important political partner”, and promised to rule for all Congo’s 80 million people.

“I will not be the president of a political organisation... I will not be the president of a tribe... I will be the president of all Congolese,” he said.