Tshisekedi sworn in as DR Congo president

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Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in Thursday as Democratic Republic of Congo's president, succeeding Joseph Kabila in the vast central African country since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960.

Tshisekedi's victory in the Dec. 30 election was marred by accusations he struck a backroom deal with the president to deny victory to another opposition candidate. Kabila and Tshisekedi's camps reject those allegations.

Tshisekedi, wearing a blue suit and dark glasses, took the oath of office before a crowd of thousands of cheering supporters, government officials and foreign ambassadors. He calls for "a reconciled Congo" in his inaugural address.

"We want to build a strong Congo, turned toward it development in peace and security -- a Congo for all in which everyone has a place," he said to thousands of cheering supporters.

Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta was the only foreign head of state present.

(Cover: Felix Tshisekedi, leader of the Congolese main opposition party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, gestures to supporters at party headquarters in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, January 10, 2019. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Reuters