Two African presidents have congratulated Democratic Republic of Congo opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi for winning last month’s presidential poll, despite the African Union saying it had “serious doubts” about the result.
The constitutional court ruled that Mr Tshisekedi had won after rejecting a challenge from rival Martin Fayulu.
He said Mr Tshisekedi made a deal with outgoing President Joseph Kabila.
Mr Tshisekedi’s team denies this.
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa both sent their congratulations.
Mr Ramaphosa called on all parties “to respect the decision of the constitutional court and commit to continue with a journey of consolidating peace”.
The southern African regional group, Sadc, has also welcomed Mr Tshisekedi’s victory saying that all Congolese should support the president-elect in his bid to maintain “unity, peace and stability”.
The African Union, which was supposed to send a delegation to the DR Congo on Monday, has now postponed the trip.
Read Also:
On Friday, it had called on the court to refrain from ruling on the result of the vote.
What does Martin Fayulu say?
Mr Fayulu, who the electoral commission said was the runner-up in the 30 December election, said he was the “legitimate” president.
Accusations of fraud are supported by comments from some election observers including the influential Catholic Church.
Mr Fayulu said his supporters should organise “non-violent protests all over the country to defend its sovereignty”. How does the constitutional court see it?
The court said Mr Fayulu had failed to prove that the election commission had announced false results.
It went on to declare Felix Tshisekedi “president of the Democratic Republic of Congo by simple majority”.
He is now expected to be sworn in within 10 days.
Violence has always accompanied the change of leadership in the country.
But the row over the the results has dented hopes the election could bring the first orderly transfer of power since DR Congo’s independence from Belgium in 1960.
