WASHINGTON: The United States on Sunday called for the peaceful resolution of any election disputes in the Democratic Republic of Congo after President Felix Tshisekedi secured the second term in the turbulent African state.
According to provisional results Tshisekedi had won 73 percent of the vote, which opposition leaders have already dismissed as a sham.
A State Department spokesperson said, the United States is following the process closely while stopping short of immediately congratulating Tshisekedi.
The spokesperson further said any election disputes should be resolved peacefully and in accordance with law. He called upon the relevant authorities to ensure any complaints are handled in a fair and transparent manner.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Constitutional Court is expected to confirm the results on January 10.
Moise Katumbi, a wealthy businessman, and former provincial governor was the election runner-up with 18 percent of votes.
He and eight other opposition candidates have signed a declaration rejecting the results and calling for a re-run. Post-election tensions are quite common in the mineral-rich African state.
Analysts have said that Tshisekedi’s vote tally was well beyond expectations.
DR Congo, a nation about four times the size of France, grapples with infrastructural limitations and widespread poverty, with around two-thirds of its 100 million population living below the poverty line.
The elections also covered parliamentary, provincial, and municipal representatives, with over 100,000 candidates participating.
