President Tshisekedi Secures Dominant Parliamentary Victory Amidst Election Controversy
By Adeyemi Adekunle
In a dramatic turn of events, President Felix Tshisekedi’s UDPS party triumphed with 66 parliamentary seats in the recent December elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, surpassing 44 rival parties vying for a stake in the 500-member house.
This significant increase from their 2018 tally of 35 seats positions UDPS strategically to sustain its ruling coalition, the Sacred Union, potentially securing Tshisekedi’s authority in forming a new government.
The provisional results unveiled by the national election commission on Sunday revealed noteworthy victories for allied parties, including Senate President Modeste Bahati Lukwebo’s faction securing 35 seats, Defense Minister Jean Pierre Bemba’s group with 17 seats, and Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe’s party claiming 32 seats. This collaborative success strengthens the coalition’s hold, boasting over 390 seats in the outgoing legislature.
However, the electoral landscape remains clouded by controversy, following the Constitutional Court’s confirmation of Tshisekedi’s contentious re-election.
Allegations of fraud, logistical challenges, and disruptions marred the December 20-24 general election, prompting concerns about transparency from both opposition parties and independent observers.
Despite skepticism, Western governments extended congratulatory remarks to Tshisekedi, acknowledging his imminent five-year leadership term in Africa’s second-largest country.
This follows a first term marked by economic challenges and a security crisis in the eastern regions.
The aftermath of the election introduces potential instability in the DRC, a global copper and cobalt powerhouse critical for the green energy transition.
Opposition parties, vehemently disputing the results and labeling the election as fraudulent, have persistently called for a re-run—a demand promptly dismissed by the authorities.
The electoral commission, in defense of the poll’s credibility, recently invalidated votes for 82 of the 101,000 legislative candidates over alleged fraud and other issues.
As the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo settles on this politically , the future of the DRC hangs in the balance, with President Tshisekedi sets to navigate the challenges of a contested victory and lead the nation into an uncertain yet Crucial chapter.
A Nigerian trained investigative journalist, who cover various news beats in Nigeria.
