DRC opposition to hold protest against election ‘irregularities’ despite govt’s ban

Concerns are emerging about the possibility of yet another cycle of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo after its government banned protests called for by five opposition candidates who are complaining of irregularities and fraud in the last week’s presidential vote.
Almost a week on from the chaotic poll that was marred by logistical problems and credibility concerns, voters are waiting anxiously for the results. While partial results put incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi in the lead, opposition calls for the presidential vote to be annulled and is planning mass protests against alleged election irregularities on Wednesday (27 December) in the capital Kinshasa. On Tuesday, however, the government has banned the event, saying it had no legal basis and that it merely aimed to undermine the electoral process. “No government in the world can accept this, so we will not let it happen,” Vice Prime Minister Peter Kazadi told a press conference.
The government also said the election commission (CENI) was still compiling results of the election. But the five opposition candidates have heavily criticized the vote, especially the CENI’s decision to extend voting at the polling stations that failed to open on the intended election day — and called for a full rerun of the vote. “We will protest against the irregularities observed during voting,” they wrote in a joint communique. “We are going to protest because we can’t accept another electoral coup d’etat,” said Martin Fayulu, one of the main challengers to President Tshisekedi. But CENI has dismissed the concerns, suggesting that Tshisekedi won some 79% of around 3.2 million votes thus far counted.