The African Union is calling for “the preservation of peace and stability” in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The AU’s appeal follows the country’s top court decision to uphold the victory of opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi in last month’s election.
DR Congo’s constitutional court dismissed an appeal by Martin Fayulu, another opposition contender challenging the outcome of the elections.
DRC’s electoral commission on January 9 declared Tshisekedi as the winner of the disputed elections. Despite the court ruling, Fayulu maintained he won the elections declaring himself as the “legitimate” president.
In a statement he said “The constitutional court has just confirmed that it serves a dictatorial regime … by validating false results, (and enabling) a constitutional coup d’etat.”
“I am now considering myself as the sole legitimate President of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Fayulu added urging his supporters to protest peacefully in the coming days.
AU calls for peace
But in a statement the African Union commission said it “takes note of the decision of the Constitutional Court of the Democratic Repubic of the Congo proclaiming the final results of the presidential and national and provincial and legislative elections of 30 December 2018.”
The stressed the “availability of the African Union to accompany the Democratic Republic of the Congo in this critical phase of its history, as well as its solidarity with the Congolese people.”
The AU commission has however canceled a visit by a high-level delegation “to Kinshasa on 21 January 2019.”
“The February 2019 Summit of the Union will receive a report on the efforts made, in solidarity with, and support to, the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” the statement added.
The African Union had earlier expressed doubts over the credibility of the elections results.
DR Congo’s new president
Felix Tshisekedi is now expected to be sworn in within 10 days after the court ruling.
Tshisekedi will be the first opposition candidate to win a peaceful presidential vote since DR Congo gained independence.
He is the son of a late veteran opposition leader, Etienne Tshisekedi. Until his death, he was the face of the DRC’s opposition for decades.
Government spokesman Lambert Mende welcomed the judgement of the court. He said “Felix Tshisekedi will become the fifth president of the republic.”
Tshisekedi will now replace President Joseph Kabila who had been in power for 18 years. President Joseph Kabila did not take part in the December 30 election.
Kabila took over as president from his father Laurent who was assassinated in 2001.
Source: Africafeeds.com
