Kinshasa: DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has won the country’s long awaited presidential polls, the electoral commission announced Thursday.
Tshisekedi beat President Joseph Kabila’s handpicked successor Ramazani Shadary to the lofty post, said Corneille Nangaa, the head of the Independent National election Commission (CEBI).
Shadary and other losing presidential aspirants have 10 days to contest the results at the country’s apex court.
DRC was on edge following the December 30 polls marred by allegations of rigging and pockets of violence in some parts of the country.
Authorities on Monday cut of telecommunication services ahead of the announcement of the presidential results, a move widely condemned by the West and the United Nations
“A general network shutdown is in clear violation of international law and cannot be justified by any means,” said David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression.
“Access to information is crucial for the credibility of the ongoing electoral process. Shutdowns are damaging not only for people’s access to information, but also for their access to basic services.”
