By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Associated Press
Published on 2024-01-20 16:48:58
The Democratic Republic of Congo swore in President Felix Tshisekedi for a second five-year term in a ceremony attended by several heads of state. Tshisekedi, 60, promised to unite the country and protect lives in the conflict-hit eastern region during his inauguration. His reelection with over 70% of the vote was disputed by opposition candidates and their supporters due to logistical problems during the election, but the constitutional court rejected the petition to annul the election, stating that Tshisekedi secured “a majority of votes cast.”
Despite calls from opposition candidates to protest the inauguration, there were no signs of protests in the capital, Kinshasa. The country of over 100 million people faces economic and security challenges, with one in four citizens experiencing food insecurity at crisis or emergency levels, according to U.N. statistics. Eastern Congo continues to be plagued by armed groups vying for resources and protection, leading to displacement of nearly 7 million people and mass killings.
Analysts emphasize the need for peace and stability in eastern Congo, as the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the country is ending after over two decades and troops from an East African regional force are also departing. Congolese citizens hope for improvements in the east during Tshisekedi’s second term to alleviate the suffering of the people and enhance the functions of the state.
Tshisekedi’s presidency in 2019 marked the country’s first democratic transfer of power since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960. He succeeded his father, Etienne Tshisekedi, a prominent public figure in Congo, after his 2017 death. With the challenges facing the country, President Tshisekedi’s second term comes with high expectations for progress and improvement, especially in the conflict-affected eastern region.
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