The Congolese president received a landslide victory in December elections, which had been closely contested by opposition candidates.
Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi has been sworn in for a second five-year time period following December’s extremely contentious elections.
“I take again the baton of command you entrusted to me. We would like a extra united, stronger and extra affluent Congo,” Tshisekedi, 60, mentioned on Saturday in the course of the inauguration ceremony within the capital.
“I’m conscious of your expectations,” he acknowledged, referring, amongst different issues, to unemployment, youth, ladies’s rights and nationwide cohesion.
As tensions flared within the huge nation’s unstable jap provinces, the chief often called “Fatshi” selected Kinshasa’s 80,000-capacity Martyrs sports activities stadium for the inauguration ceremony.
The stands had been packed properly earlier than midday with music and dance in full swing awaiting the arrival of a number of invited heads of state and conventional leaders from the nation’s 26 provinces.
Tshisekedi was first sworn in as president in January 2019 after controversially defeating Joseph Kabila.
He received the primary time by promising to enhance residing circumstances within the DRC – which has mineral wealth however a largely impoverished inhabitants of 100 million folks – and to finish 25 years of bloodshed within the east.
The Congolese president has not stored these guarantees, however this time he campaigned vigorously on his first time period achievements, resembling free fundamental medication, and requested for a brand new mandate to ‘consolidate’ progress.
‘Dissatisfaction’
The Congolese president received a landslide victory within the December 20 elections, profitable greater than 70 % of the vote.
The elections had a turnout of greater than 40 %, with roughly 18 million folks voting.
Even earlier than the outcomes had been introduced in late December, opposition candidates – together with businessman Moise Katumbi who completed behind Tshisekedi with 18 % of the vote – mentioned they rejected the outcomes and referred to as on the inhabitants to mobilize.
Logistical points included many polling stations opening late or not opening in any respect. Supplies had been typically lacking and plenty of voter playing cards had turn into unreadable on account of smudged ink.
Voting within the elections needed to be prolonged to a second day, one thing native observers and civil society teams have deemed unlawful, and elements of the nation had been nonetheless casting ballots 5 days after election day.
Martin Fayulu, who has mentioned he was additionally robbed within the final presidential election, bought 5 %. Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege, who received the prize for his work with rape victims, scored 0.22 %. These candidates referred to as for the election outcomes to be annulled.
Katumbi and Fayulu had referred to as on supporters on Saturday to “present their discontent”. They urged folks to “arise and say ‘no’” wherever they’re.
AFP reporters mentioned tires had been burned on Saturday morning on the streets of Goma, the primary hub of the conflict-torn jap province of North Kivu.
Within the provincial city of Beni, additionally within the east, younger folks tried to arrange barricades, however police intervened.
The electoral fee CENI has acknowledged instances of fraud, vandalism and intimidation, in addition to the usage of unlawful voting machines.
The DRC has a historical past of contested elections that may flip violent, and many voters have little confidence within the nation’s establishments.
