Kinshasa: Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in as Congo’s new president on Thursday, marking the first peaceful — though not undisputed — transfer of power in the troubled country’s history.
The inauguration in Kinshasa was full of pomp and ceremony and ushered in the end of more than two decades of rule by the Kabila family.
“Our Congo will not be a Congo of hate and tribalism,” Tshisekedi said at the ceremony. “Our fight will be to improve the lives of each citizen.”
The December elections were the first time an opposition leader won at the polls, but they were not without controversy. Another opposition leader, Martin Fayulu, has alleged fraud.
Fayulu claims that after President Joseph Kabila’s chosen successor and ruling party candidate lost the vote, Kabila and Tshisekedi did aback-room deal.
Voting tallies by the influential Catholic Church, as well as results leaked to several foreign newspapers, also appear to show Fayulu was the winner.
While the international community had been slow to congratulate Tshisekedi, most have now come on board, presumably wishing to avoid an outbreak of violence in a country that has already seen many conflicts.
On Tuesday night, the US State Department joined countries including France and South Africa in congratulating Tshisekedi — though with a caveat.
The statement encouraged the government “to address reports of electoral irregularities.”
“We also recognise President Joseph Kabila’s commitment to becoming the first president in DRC history to cede power peacefully through an electoral process,” it added.
— dpa
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