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DR Congo: Presidential Candidates

DR Congo: Presidential Candidates Four opposition figures who have declared they will run in DR Congo's presidential elections in December vowed on April 14th to mount a joint campaign over the staging of the vote.The country's last presidential ballot in 2018 unfolded peacefully despite dangerous political tensions but was stained by accusations of rigging.“We have decided to bring our ideas and strengths together,” the four said, “to lead joint action to ensure transparent, impartial, inclusive and peaceful elections within the constitutional timeframe”.The four are Martin Fayulu, the runner‐up in the 2018 vote; the influential former governor of Katanga province, Moise Katumbi; former prime minister Augustin Matata; and prominent MP Delly Sesanga.They said their “first action” would be a march in the capital Kinshasa on May 13th “to denounce worsening security situation, the high cost of living and the poverty of the people (and) the chaotic electoral process.”The biggest country in sub‐Saharan Africa, with an area the size of continental Western Europe, DR Congo has a long history of political turbulence.The December 2018 vote saw the nation's first peaceful handover of power after authoritarian ruler Joseph Kabila stepped down voluntarily after 18 years in office. The last two presidential elections before that, in 2006 and 2011 – both won by Kabila – were marred by bloodshed.The victor in 2018 was long‐term opposition figure Felix Tshisekedi, but his win came at the cost of furious accusations by Fayulu that the results were rigged.The one‐round presidential poll is scheduled to take place on December 20th, at the same time as parliamentary, provincial and local elections.The April 14th announcement was made in Katumbi's stronghold, the southeastern city of Lubumbashi.The joint declaration has stirred speculation that the four may eventually coalesce around a single candidate to challenge Tshisekedi, who has already said he will seek re‐election. (© AFP 14/4 2023) http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Africa Research Bulletin Political Social and Cultural Series Wiley

DR Congo: Presidential Candidates

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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
ISSN
0001-9844
eISSN
1467-825X
DOI
10.1111/j.1467-825x.2023.11023.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Four opposition figures who have declared they will run in DR Congo's presidential elections in December vowed on April 14th to mount a joint campaign over the staging of the vote.The country's last presidential ballot in 2018 unfolded peacefully despite dangerous political tensions but was stained by accusations of rigging.“We have decided to bring our ideas and strengths together,” the four said, “to lead joint action to ensure transparent, impartial, inclusive and peaceful elections within the constitutional timeframe”.The four are Martin Fayulu, the runner‐up in the 2018 vote; the influential former governor of Katanga province, Moise Katumbi; former prime minister Augustin Matata; and prominent MP Delly Sesanga.They said their “first action” would be a march in the capital Kinshasa on May 13th “to denounce worsening security situation, the high cost of living and the poverty of the people (and) the chaotic electoral process.”The biggest country in sub‐Saharan Africa, with an area the size of continental Western Europe, DR Congo has a long history of political turbulence.The December 2018 vote saw the nation's first peaceful handover of power after authoritarian ruler Joseph Kabila stepped down voluntarily after 18 years in office. The last two presidential elections before that, in 2006 and 2011 – both won by Kabila – were marred by bloodshed.The victor in 2018 was long‐term opposition figure Felix Tshisekedi, but his win came at the cost of furious accusations by Fayulu that the results were rigged.The one‐round presidential poll is scheduled to take place on December 20th, at the same time as parliamentary, provincial and local elections.The April 14th announcement was made in Katumbi's stronghold, the southeastern city of Lubumbashi.The joint declaration has stirred speculation that the four may eventually coalesce around a single candidate to challenge Tshisekedi, who has already said he will seek re‐election. (© AFP 14/4 2023)

Journal

Africa Research Bulletin Political Social and Cultural Series – Wiley

Published: May 1, 2023

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