Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - The outgoing President, Joseph Kabila, and the historic opponent, Etienne Tshisekedi, are in the lead in the partial count of the votes of the November 28 presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has so far published the counting of 15% of the votes cast in 64,000 polling stations. So does there exist the possibility that the 78 year-old Tshisekedi, who has always been the leader of the opposition (first against dictator Mobutu in Zaire at the time, now against Joseph Kabila), could take power?
In an analysis sent to Agenzia Fides by the Peace Network for Congo, promoted by the missionaries, we note that on November 28, in a statement released after voting, just before the official closing of the vote, Tshisekedi promised to respect the results of the polls. "With the pressure of the international community, I think that the elections were conducted well and will respect, therefore, the results of the polls", he said. One of his closest advisers, said: "Although there were many irregularities, we will not ask for the annulment of the vote, because we know that the results are in our favor ".
"The 'non objection' of the election by Etienne Tshisekedi is very surprising," says the note. The UDPS (Tshisekedi's party) had actually led a campaign focused on the complaint of a number of irregularities detected and the risk of massive fraud during the elections. The disorder and chaos of Election Day could have given UDPS good reasons for the annulment of the vote. But it seems to be very confident about the results and if on 6 December, the INEC declares him the winner of the elections, it will be better for him not to have challenged the results a few days before! The UDPS President expects the INEC to tell "the truth". It remains to be seen whether, in the case of a defeat, Tshisekedi and his party will be able to accept the verdict of the polls", the statement concludes. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 03/12/2011)
