Five opposition candidates have rejected the recent Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) election results and are calling for a rerun.
The opposition parties’ attempts to protest these results in Kinshasa were resisted by the DRC’s Interior Minister, who prohibited the demonstration, citing concerns about undermining the electoral process.
The dispute over the elections spilt onto the streets as supporters of opposition candidates gathered outside a political party office in the capital.
WATCH: Opposition parties challenge DRC election results
Protesters voiced their discontent, alleging irregularities in the electoral process. A Congolese citizen expressed concern over flawed elections, suggesting potential consequences such as bloodshed due to discrepancies in the reported results.
Despite the prohibition, the planned protest attracted a significant turnout of supporters, leading to a heavy police presence in the area.
As the situation escalated, the protest turned violent, with demonstrators throwing stones at the police, who responded by firing tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu condemned the police’s use of force, alleging injuries and live rounds being fired during the confrontation.
Tensions have heightened in the DRC since the release of partial election results by the electoral commission. The results indicated a clear lead for incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi, prompting allegations of irregularities from opposition candidates.
The opposition insists on fresh elections, citing numerous irregularities in the voting process.
Vote counting is still ongoing, with the electoral commission set to announce the full provisional results on December 31.
Despite the challenges faced in Kinshasa, opposition leaders have vowed to persist with protests in other towns and cities until the government acknowledges their demand for a rerun.
The situation remains tense as the opposition continues its call for electoral transparency and a reconsideration of the election results.
