Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in on Thursday as president of Democratic Republic of Congo, marking the country’s first-ever peaceful handover of power after chaotic and bitterly-disputed elections. Tshisekedi took the oath of office before receiving the national flag and a copy of the …
Read More »DR Congo set for historic political transition
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Felix Tshisekedi is to be sworn in on Thursday as president of Democratic Republic of Congo, marking the country’s first-ever peaceful handover of power after chaotic and bitterly-disputed elections. At 55, opposition leader Tshisekedi takes over from Joseph Kabila who is stepping aside after 18 …
Read More »DR Congo election results: Who’s saying what?
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The outcome of the presidential election in Democratic Republic of Congo lies in the hands of the Constitutional Court, where the declared runner-up Martin Fayulu has filed an appeal. Here are the figures which lie at the heart of his claim: – Election board …
Read More »Regional leaders head to Addis to discuss DRC situation
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | African Regional leaders will meet in Addis Ababa tomorrow to help chat a way forward for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The meetings will start with a Southern African Development Community (SADC) Double Troika Summit, that will be followed by a consultative meeting between …
Read More »Prof Ndebesa: DRC election exposes new innovation in rigging
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Makerere University professor of history Mwambutsya Ndebesa has described the presidential election outcome in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as “a classic and new innovation in rigging elections in Africa”. DR Congo’s National Electoral Commission (Ceni) this morning released provisional results of the much-delayed …
Read More »Stable DRC good for trade in West Nile, say leaders
Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A peaceful, stable and thriving eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would generate lots of dividends for Uganda. According to business leaders from West Nile, the region and Uganda in general will benefit a lot if stability and peace reigns in the DRC, …
Read More »EU ‘takes note’ of DRC vote result – and objections
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | The European Union said Thursday it had “taken note” of the surprise result of DR Congo’s controversial presidential election — as well as objections by the runner-up that the outcome amounted to a “coup”. A spokeswoman for the European Commission said the bloc was waiting for clarification from international observers, …
Read More »DR Congo election results could be counted in ’24-48 hours’: official
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Provisional results of the much-delayed Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidential election could be counted in “24 to 48 hours,” a top electoral official said on Tuesday. The elections, postponed three times over the last two years, were to choose a successor to long-term President …
Read More »DRC cuts internet to avoid ‘uprising’ after vote
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The DR Congo government said Tuesday it had cut the country’s internet services to avert a “popular uprising” as tensions rise pending the results of fractious presidential elections. The opposition accused authorities of cutting the internet on Monday to thwart activism, while leading Western …
Read More »Voting winds up in volatile DRC’s long-awaited election
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | After two years of delays, the Democratic Republic of Congo voted Sunday in presidential elections that will determine the future of Africa’s notoriously unstable giant. The country’s Catholic Bishop Council said the voting took place in “relative calm”, based on their observations in 78 …
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