Electoral Commission Names Kabila Winner

Results from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) presidential election are officially in, putting incumbent Joseph Kabila once again in the office of president. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that Kabila won with 49% of the vote, his closest competitor, Etienne Tshisekedi of the Union for Democracy and Progress Party, garnered 32% of the vote. Local and international communities have largely contested these results, however.

The elections were marked by numerous irregularities according to the Carter Centre with various polling stations reporting impossibly high rates of 99% to 100% percent voter turnout. Other polling stations reported that all votes were in favor of Kabila, which would be nearly impossible. There was also the case of more than a few polling stations in Kinshasa, a known stronghold of Tshisekedi, allegedly losing their results.

The irregularities led to Tshisekedi announcing that he is from this day on the elected president of the DRC, despite the INEC indicating otherwise.

Kabila, while admitting that some mistakes had been made in the process rejected any criticism that indicated the results were fraudulent.

With Kabila sticking to the results and Tshisekedi declaring himself president, the fate of whatever peace has been achieved in the country is in jeopardy. Already gunfire has erupted in parts of the DRC and post election violence has occurred sporadically since the late-November election took place.

While some in the country fear an escalation of violence Kabila as stated that it was business as usual. "We don't have a crisis in this country ... We're going to stay calm and continue with the day-to-day activities of the state," he said.

Kabila did say that he was ready for talks with the opposition once the supreme court gives its verdict on the results. This is expected on December 17. "We have always been for dialogue, but what are the issues? Do we have any subjects to discuss? ... We can only do that when the Supreme Court gives its final verdict," he said.