The Provisional results from the recent Presidential elections held on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, in the Democratic Republic of Congo show President Felix Tshisekedi with a lead over his challengers.
According to Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) on Friday, Tshisekedi leads in the diaspora vote tallies in several countries like South Africa, Belgium, Canada, the United States, and France.
CENI also announced that Tshisekedi held a significant lead against his next opponent business magnate and former provincial governor Moise Katumbi in the Provinces of Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu, Grand Katanga, and Grand kasaï, Maniema, Équateur Bandundu, Bas Congo, Provinces Orientale and Kinshasa.
The Full Provisional results are expected to be released on December 31, 2023. According to reports, the election was marred by logistical setbacks and violence with some candidates calling for a new election due to unexpected extension and voting irregularities.
The Provisional results come after voting was extended into Thursday after according to reports some polling stations failed to open to the public and some voters could not find their names on registers.
The complete provisional results will determine the next steps following the election according to the opposition.
Opposition reports that despite the electoral commission announcing that polling stations were not authorized to open beyond Thursday, voting continued in some places, especially remote areas, into Friday.
Serious irregularities have been reported by Independent observers as they raised concerns about the voting, within the US-based Carter Center describing that at 21 out of 109 polling stations they visited, they noted a lack of confidence in the process.
The head of the country’s electoral commission Denis Kadima, on Friday rejected criticism promising to deliver free and fair results defying pressure from politicians in the opposition parties who have accused him of being biased and being close to the DRC government.
The mineral-rich Central African country which is considered to be among the poorest countries in the world has a history of disputed elections that can turn violent despite facing a prolonged crisis of armed conflicts, floods and disease outbreaks.
