Opposition Defies Government Ban, Plans Protest Against Alleged Electoral Fraud in DR Congo

By Caroline Ameh

In the aftermath of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) presidential election, where initial results indicate a significant lead for the incumbent, opposition candidates persist in organizing a march in the capital city on Wednesday, despite authorities’ prohibition of the protest.

Five opposition presidential candidates formally notified the Kinshasa governor, expressing their intent to orchestrate the demonstration, labeling the recent election as fraudulent.

Martin Fayulu, a prominent contender against President Felix Tshisekedi in the December 20 election, reaffirmed the opposition’s resolve to proceed with the protest, citing conviction that the election constituted a fraudulent act. “We are going to protest because we can’t accept another electoral coup d’etat,” Fayulu stated to Reuters via phone.

This determination to protest persisted despite the interior minister, Peter Kazadi, declaring the march illegitimate, aimed at undermining the ongoing work of the election commission, currently compiling results. Kazadi urged the opposition to await the complete results rather than engage in protests.

Election disputes frequently ignite unrest in the DRC, further threatening the stability of Africa’s second-largest country, already grappling with widespread poverty and insecurity, particularly in its eastern region, despite being a significant producer of cobalt and copper.

The electoral process itself encountered challenges, marked by delayed delivery of election materials, malfunctioning equipment, and disorganized voter registers during the turbulent campaign period.

Criticism targeted the election commission’s decision to extend voting at stations that failed to open on election day, deeming it unconstitutional, and demanding a complete rerun of the election.

Some impartial observers echoed these concerns, asserting that the extension compromised the election’s credibility. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, the archbishop of the Catholic Church in the DRC, described the process as a “gigantic disorganized disorder.”