The Democratic Republic of Congo’s constitutional court on Wednesday dismissed petitions opposing the provisional results of last December’s presidential election, officially recognizing Félix Tshisekedi as president of the country.
Félix Tshisekedi secured 73.47 percent of the votes, according to the court. This figure is slightly higher than the 73.34 percent attributed to Tshisekedi in the previously announced results. On the other hand, the key contender, Moïse Katumbi, attained 18.08 percent of the total votes.
Petitions against the election results were submitted separately by presidential candidate Theodore Ngoy and a citizen. After a two-day hearing, the court flatly dismissed these appeals, dubbing them as “lacking merit”.
Theodore Ngoy, who came last in the presidential race, accounting for 0.02 percent of the vote, was the only opposition candidate to file a petition against the results. This lawyer and pastor, who also participated in the 2018 presidential race, demanded a nullification of the election. The election, however, was branded a “sham” by several opposition contestants who rejected the results and insisted on a re-run.
Whilst some opposition candidates including Moïse Katumbi, disavowed the electoral results, most refrained from lodging appeals, charging that the court favored the government.
Despite violence and logistical difficulties, the DRC held its presidential election on December 20, 2023. Voting was extended for an additional day due to these issues. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), reported that more than 18 million Congolese out of 44 million registered voters participated in the elections in the 26 provincial assemblies.
Tshisekedi, 60, assumed power in January 2019 after a disputed election and has now been reelected in a sweeping victory. The 2018 election represented a historic moment, marking the first peaceful transition of power in the country since 1960, shattering a trend of power being appropriated through violence.
President Tshisekedi is scheduled to be inaugurated again on January 20.