While the first results are just beginning to fall, a group of presidential candidates – including Martin Fayulu, Denis Mukwege, Théodore Ngoy, Jean-Claude Baende and Nkema Liloo – strongly denounced this Saturday, December 23, what they call of ” sham elections “. In a joint communication, these candidates announced the holding of a large public demonstration for Wednesday, December 27 in Kinshasa. They officially informed local authorities of their intention to demonstrate by submitting a file to city hall.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
These candidates are protesting against the irregularities noted during the voting operations of December 20 and condemning the extension of voting operations beyond December 20. A vote which continued today in remote areas of some provinces where certain offices had not opened either last Wednesday or Thursday. For these opponents, this is a violation of the Constitution and electoral law.
The five candidates denounce the conditions for holding these elections and consider that the truth of the ballot boxes cannot emerge in this context. Théodore Ngoy is one of the signatories of the letter: “ Everyone was able to see that there were offices which continued to operate three days later. There are people who have not been able to vote until we speak. Based on the constitution, we believe that this must be made known to the government, the international community, observers so that corrective measures can be taken “.
Martin Fayulu, Denis Mukwege, Théodore Ngoy, Jean-Claude Baende and Nkema Liloo were already among those who had filed a complaint at the end of November against Denis Kadima, president of the Céni, and Peter Kazadi, deputy prime minister in charge of the Interior, the accusing him of sabotaging the elections.
For his part, the opponent Moïse Katumbi is not one of the signatories of this letter. Although he denounces what he calls a ” electoral chaos » and that he supports the approach of the other opposition candidates, one of his close friends believes that despite these conditions, he believes in their chances of winning.
On the side of power, we are calling for calm and warning against all forms of violence. The presidential party considers that this is nothing more and nothing less than a lack of respect towards the people who mobilized for these elections. Augustin Kabuya, secretary general of the UDPS, believes that these candidates are simply losing momentum.
For his part, Peter Kazadi, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Interior and executive of the presidential party, calls for calm. “ I appeal to political leaders to the end. He must play the democratic game to the end. If you are a loser, accept and congratulate the one who won instead of setting the country ablaze “. Peter Kazadi clarifies that the government will not let anyone create trouble.
For their part, the embassies of Canada and 12 European countries, including Belgium and France, call on political actors to continue to show restraint, to allow time for the process to continue and to assert their challenges in a manner peaceful.
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