Elections in the Congo – The end of the Kabila system should not mean this – News



[ad_1]

content

In Congo-Kinshasa, the Supreme Court confirmed the election of opposition candidate Félix Thisekedi as the new president of the Congo. This leads to the first change of power through polling in the history of the country. But there are big doubts about the result of the elections in the room. And so the elections should also be a bizarre example on the African continent, where the ruling party has falsified the result in favor of the opposition.

The elections in the Congo were marked by surprises. Firstly, the fact that they actually took place. The longtime governor Joseph Kabila, who had been in power for almost 18 years, eventually postponed the electoral session for more than two years. Then the result: he won with Félix Thisekedi a candidate of opposition and not as expected the desired designated successor of President Kabila.

The African Union speaks of "serious doubts"

However, after the election commission's announcement of the winner, reporters leaked credible data that the elections had been manipulated. In reality, the other opposition candidate, Martin Fayulu, should have won. And clearly, with about 60 percent of the votes.

What emerged from the obvious thesis: Tshisekedi was chosen as the winner because he had a pact with the sovereign long-term Kabila. And last but not least, the violent reactions to the accusations of manipulation by the international community, especially the regional commissions. The African Union, which tends to remain silent when the elections on the continent are not entirely democratic, spoke of "serious doubts" about the election result and called for a recount.

The Kabila system seems to have finally prevailed.

But the Supreme Court's decision to reject accusations by alleged electoral winner Martin Fayulu and to call his request for votes to be re-framed "absurd" was no surprise. The nine judges are considered loyal to the regime.

The Kabila system seems to have finally prevailed. Because even if it is the historical change of power, the end of the Kabila system should hardly be understood. How much Joseph Kabila will continue to pull the strings in the country depends on the strength of the new president of the Congo. Félix Thisekedi definitely does not have an easy start.

From the announcement of the election result, there were 34 dead

The former ruler, who probably owes much, is now a senator in his life. The former ruling party continues to dominate the parliament. The international community is opposed to it with reservations and perhaps an angry crowd in its own country.

In fact, when about two-thirds of the voters voted against the other opposition candidate, Martin Fayulu, there is a chance in the Congo, led by the elections, that voters dispel their displeasure over the Street. 34 people were killed from the election result. But today it is quiet in Congo-Kinshasa. Maybe it's another surprise.

Anna Lemmenmeier

Anna Lemmenmeier

Corresponding Africa

Open the person's boxBox of neighboring person

Anna Lemmenmeier is from 2017 Corresponding Africa, The link will open in a new window from Radio SRF and lives in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Prior to that, he was a member of the commercial section of the SRF. He studied international relations, history and international law at the Universities of Bern, Geneva and Ghana.

[ad_2]
Source link