Why Congo’s Election Outcome Is Raising Hackles

The Democratic Republic of Congo, sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest country, is aiming for its first transfer of power via the ballot box since the cobalt- and copper-rich nation gained independence from Belgium almost six decades ago. But elections held in late December haven’t produced a clear outcome. One of the losing candidates has called the vote fraudulent and declared himself the rightful winner, while the Catholic Church and a group of African countries have raised doubts about the veracity of the results.

The official outcome confounded expectations. Heading into the Dec. 30 vote, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, the hand-picked protege of outgoing President Joseph Kabila -- who had ruled Congo for 18 years -- was expected to walk away with the job. But Shadary, 58, garnered just 24 percent of the vote, according to tallies released by Congo’s National Independent Electoral Commission. Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi, 55, got 39 percent, while another rival, Martin Fayulu, received 35 percent. On Jan. 20, Congo’s Constitutional Court confirmed Tshisekedi as the official winner.