SADC bloc calls for calm amid election dispute

THE Southern African Development Community called for calm yesterday in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) amid a dispute over the result of the presidential vote.

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

The Catholic Church rejected the official result and opposition leader Martin Fayulu denounced a “coup”.

Fayulu’s supporters said the authorities rigged the result on behalf of Tshisekedi as part of a deal to protect figures from the outgoing administration.

At least four people were reported killed in demonstrations in one eastern city, although much of the rest of the country appeared calm. |

News Agency (ANA)