DR Congo political crisis deepens as top court rejects vote challenge

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The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) political standoff deepened on Sunday after the top court backed the contested presidential election victory of Felix Tshisekedi, then his main rival rejected the ruling, called for protests and declared himself leader.

As Tshisekedi's supporters celebrated the ruling in the streets of DRC's capital, runner-up Martin Fayulu said the decision had opened the way to a “constitutional coup d'etat," raising fears of more violence.

Following the court decision, the African Union postponed a visit by a high-level delegation to Kinshasa that had been scheduled for Monday to discuss the crisis. It has previously expressed “serious concerns” about the vote and called for the results to be delayed.

Felix Tshisekedi, leader of the Congolese main opposition party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress who was declared as the winner of the presidential elections, gestures to his supporters at the party headquarters in Kinshasa, DRC, January 10, 2019. /VCG Photo

“I can confirm to you that the trip has been postponed. Not canceled,” spokeswoman Ebba Kalondo said on Sunday.

In the early hours of Sunday, the Constitutional Court ruled that a legal challenge to the result filed by Fayulu was inadmissible. “Felix Tshisekedi will become the fifth president of the republic,” government spokesman Lambert Mende said as he welcomed the judgment.

Fayulu issued statements dismissing the ruling. “The constitutional court has just confirmed that it serves a dictatorial regime ... by validating false results, (and enabling) a constitutional coup d'etat,” he said.

Martin Fayulu, runner-up in DRC's presidential election, enters his car after delivering his appeal contesting the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) results of the presidential elections at the constitutional court in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, January 12, 2019. /VCG Photo

“I am now considering myself as the sole legitimate President of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he added in another statement. He called for people to mount peaceful demonstrations – though the streets of the capital were calm on Sunday afternoon.

(Top image: Congolese riot policemen disperse supporters of Martin Fayulu, runner-up in Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential election, as he delivers his appeal contesting the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) results of the presidential election at the constitutional court in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, January 12, 2019./VCG Photo)

Source(s): Reuters