SADC calls for DRC vote recount, proposes unity govt

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday in Addis Ababa to discuss Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidential election, that the runner-up says was rigged.
The regional bloc, which includes old Kabila allies Angola and South Africa, recommended a government of national unity including parties representing Kabila, Fayulu and Tshisekedi that could promote peace.
The International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL), a 12-member body including Kinshasa allies Angola and Republic of Congo, also expressed “great concern” at the controversy.
President Kabila’s diplomatic adviser, Barnabe Kikaya Bin Karubi, is expected to attend the Thursday meeting. It was not immediately clear who else from DR Congo would be present.
Pre-election polls predicted a landslide win for opposition candidate Martin Fayulu. Congo’s Catholic Church said that tallies compiled by its 40,000-strong monitoring team show a different winner to those announced by the electoral commission.
Fayulu’s supporters say authorities rigged the result on behalf of Tshisekedi in a deal to protect members of President Joseph Kabila’s outgoing administration and maintain his influence over security forces.
The former Exxon manager and Kinshasa lawmaker urged that Congo’s electoral commission publish detailed results, polling stations by polling station.
Around the vast nation of 80 million people that is nearly the size of western Europe, there have been isolated incidents of post-election violence.
Kabila has ruled since 2001 in the Central African nation rich in minerals key to smartphones around the world.