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In a joint statement recently the CENCO-ECC Catholic and Protestant churches said the results of the presidential and legislative vote would only be acceptable if an inquiry was set up. The groups had monitored the polls with their thousands of independent observers
The powerful Catholic bishops conference and Protestant churches in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have demanded an independent inquiry on alleged irregularities and legal violations during the December general elections. The presidential election won by incumbent Felix Tshisekedi with more than 73% has now been questioned by the powerful Catholic Church, which earlier also pointed out irregularities in the conduct of elections.
In a joint statement recently the CENCO-ECC Catholic and Protestant churches said the results of the presidential and legislative vote would only be acceptable if an inquiry was set up. The groups had monitored the polls with their thousands of independent observers.
Malfunctioning machines and delays led to an unscheduled extension of voting beyond Dec. 20 – something local observers and civil society organizations have called illegal.
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The logistical problems included many polling stations being late in opening or not opening at all. Some lacked materials, and many voter cards had smudged ink that made them illegible. A large group of opposition candidates say the election was fraudulent as a result and have rejected the provisional results. Two formal appeals against the provisional presidential results have been filed before Congo’s constitutional court. The low turnout of the election at 40% was also pointed out by the opposition as a reason for its rerun.
