spot_imgspot_img
Tuesday, October 8, 2024

CONGO’S KATUMBI SAYS ELECTION SHOULD BE ANNULLED AS OPPOSITION PLANS PROTEST

Date:

BENI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, (REUTERS) – Moise Katumbi, one of the main opposition candidates in Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidential election has added his voice to calls for the Dec. 20 vote to be annulled because of “massive fraud,” a statement from his campaign said on Saturday.

Katumbi’s campaign added in the statement that the head of Congo’s national election commission should resign because the commission had participated in a planned “electoral fraud.”

“In this face of this unacceptable situation, we are calling for the immediate annulment of this chaotic election tainted by massive fraud,” the statement said.

Katumbi’s statement came as another group of opposition candidates who had called for a rerun of the election on Wednesday, wrote to the governor of the capital Kinshasa to say they will hold a joint protest next week over the election.

Katumbi is not among those who called for the protest, but his team told Reuters earlier on Saturday they support any constitutional initiative aimed at resisting another electoral robbery in Congo.

“In this face of this unacceptable situation, we are calling for the immediate annulment of this chaotic election tainted by massive fraud,” the statement said.

Katumbi’s statement came as another group of opposition candidates who had called for a rerun of the election on Wednesday, wrote to the governor of the capital Kinshasa to say they will hold a joint protest next week over the election.

Katumbi is not among those who called for the protest, but his team told Reuters earlier on Saturday they support any constitutional initiative aimed at resisting another electoral robbery in Congo.

Election disputes often fuel unrest in Democratic Republic of Congo and risk further destabilising a country with globally important reserves of cobalt and copper, and which is battling widespread poverty and an eastern security crisis.

In a sign of growing concern over the aftermath of the election, 13 embassies in Kinshasa, including those of Germany and France, released a joint statement on Saturday calling for restraint.

“As the vote counting continues, we urge all stakeholders, especially political actors, candidates and their supporters, to exercise restraint, allow the process to unfold, and raise their concerns peacefully,” they said.

Delays during Wednesday’s election led to an extension of voting, which some opposition candidates and independent observers said compromises the credibility of the vote.

Five presidential candidates plan to hold the protest in the capital on Dec. 27, according to a Dec. 22 letter to the Kinshasa governor shared on social media platform X by Jean-Marc Kabunda, a representative of candidate Martin Fayulu.

The letter said they would protest alleged irregularities during the vote and the extension, which “sufficiently demonstrate that on Dec. 20, 2023, the elections were a sham.”

Congo’s election commission known as CENI, has acknowledged there were delays on Dec. 20 that meant some polling stations failed to open, but denied the credibility of the election was compromised by extending some voting.

Full provisional election results are expected by Dec. 31, with daily updates released from Saturday. These results will determine whether incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi or one of his 18 challengers won the vote.

The chaotic election day capped a fraught campaign in which at least 19 people were killed in election-related violence and the opposition and observers warned of widespread issues they said would enable fraud. CENI and the presidency denied this.

In a sign of further electoral setbacks, local authorities in eastern Lubero territory told Reuters voting had still not taken place in five small centres that are accessible only by air or foot, because rain had delayed the delivery of election materials.

Voting there is now expected to be held on Sunday if couriers walk through the night, said Paluku Maker, an official for Bapere sector.

smartnews
Smart News Liberia is an online news outlet and a product of Smart Media Group Inc. Our website, smartnewsliberia.com, covers a broad spectrum of news content. For inquiries or information, you can reach us at 0777425285 or 0886946925, or email us at smartnewsliberia@gmail.com or info@smartnewsliberia.com.

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

PRESIDENT BOAKAI’S WHEELBARROW REMARK EXPOSES HYPOCRISY AMID MODAD’S $96,000 VEHICLE SCANDAL

MONROVIA – President Joseph Boakai’s declaration, "I can ride...

FORMER FINANCE MINISTER TWEAH FACES ARREST AS STATE CHALLENGES $8 MILLION BOND AMID MAJOR CORRUPTION TRIAL

MONROVIA – Former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah's legal troubles...

EYEWITNESS REPORT IN THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF EMMANUEL BARTEN NYESWA

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The mysterious death of Emmanuel Barten...

BOAKAI’S MISPLACED AMBITIONS AS LIBERIA BLEEDS AND THE PRESIDENT COURTS GLOBAL VANITY

Eight months into his presidency, Joseph Boakai’s administration is...

TAKE IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF MPOX – STAY ALERT, STAY PROTECTED

As Liberia confronts the resurgence of Mpox, the confirmation...

NO JUSTIFICATION FOR HIGH SALARIES OF BOAKAI ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS AMID ECONOMIC STRUGGLES

In the midst of Liberia's current economic struggles, revelations...

LIBERIA’S POLITICAL CRISIS: A CALL FOR RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP AMID ESCALATING TENSIONS

The recent clash between the Coalition for Democratic Change...

COMMENTARY

THE MASS DISMISSAL OF LIBERIAN PUBLIC SERVANTS: A TROUBLING TREND UNDER THE BOAKAI ADMINISTRATION

A Commentary by Wondah L. Jah Since assuming the presidency,...

SECURITY RISKS: IS PRESIDENT BOAKAI UNKNOWINGLY SETTING THE STAGE FOR EARLY COUP D’ÉTAT?

In his commentary, Liberian political analyst Vandalerk R. Patricks...

IS JOSEPH BOAKAI LISTENING TO PROTESTS AROUND AFRICA?

A Commentary By Wondah L. Jah In January, Joseph Boakai,...

LATEST NEWS

BILITY CLAIMS LIBERIA’S INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVE UNDER FIRE AMID PROCUREMENT ALLEGATIONS

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Chairman of the Liberty Party,...

WHY ARE LOBBYING FIRMS IN THE U.S. TERMINATING CONTRACTS WITH THE WEAH GOVERNMENT

LIBERIA – Credible sources have revealed that several lobbying...

‘WHERE IS BOAKAI’S MORAL COMPASS?’ – LIBERIA’S FORMER REP TO IMO SCOLDS JNB OVER HIS RUNNING-MATE PICK

By Olando Testimony Zeongar MONROVIA - Liberia’s immediate past Permanent...

MOUNTING CONCERNS OVER PRESIDENT JOSEPH BOAKAI’S USE OF PRIVATE JET FOR GUINEA BISSAU VISIT

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – On Wednesday morning, May 15, 2024,...

Share post:

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

OPINION

AMERICA’S NEGLECT OF LIBERIA: A CALL FOR CHANGE

An Opinion By Bishop Dr. Rudolph Q. Kwanue, Sr A...

AMID AN UNENDING WAR AGAINST POVERTY, INJUSTICES – HAS THE PROGRESSIVE STRUGGLE BECOME LOST IN TRANSLATION?

A Patriot's Diary With Ekena Wesley What manner of Liberian progressives...

HAS PRESIDENT BOAKAI’S GOVERNMENT BEGUN BEARING GOOD FRUITS? (PART1)

By Jacob N.B. Parley Following a careful reflection, I have...

ELEVATING THE AG BIBLE COLLEGE TO A UNIVERSITY: A MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT

By Jacob N.B. Parley After many years of successful preaching...

THE DILEMMA OF PRESIDENTIAL SUPREMACY IN LIBERIA: EXAMINING THE BALANCE OF POWER

By Dr. Clarence R. Pearson, Sr. Superior presidency is the...

THE GALLERY

spot_imgspot_img

MORE ARTICLES

spot_imgspot_img

MORE NEWS

LATEST DEVELOPMENT NEWS

LATEST CRIME NEWS

Share via
Copy link