KINSHASA: Congo’s election crisis deepened early Sunday when the Consti­tutional Court confirmed the win of Felix Tshisekedi, rejecting claims of fraud, and runner-up Martin Fay­ulu promptly declared himself the country’s “only legitimate president”. Fayulu’s supporters have alleged an extraordinary backroom deal by outgoing President Joseph Kabila to rig the vote in favour of the opposition after the ruling party’s candidate did so poorly that a Plan B was needed. Neither side has acknowledged the accusations.

The court, however, said Fayulu offered no proof to back his assertions that he had won easily based on leaked data attributed to the electoral commission.

Fayulu urged Congolese to take to the streets to peacefully protest what he called “constitutional coup d’etat”, accusing the court of validating false results. “It’s no secret ... that you have elected me president,” he said. Neither Congolese nor the international community should recognise Tshise­kedi, nor obey him, Fayulu added.

Tshisekedi said early Sunday that the Constitu­tional Court’s decision confirming him as the winner of the presidential election was a victory for the entire country. “It is Congo that won,” said Tshisekedi, speaking to his supporters after the court decision. “It is not the victory of one camp against another. I am engaged in a campaign to reconcile all Congolese. ... The Congo that we are going to form will not be a Congo of division, hatred or tribalism. It will be a reconciled Congo, a strong Congo that will be focused on development, peace and security.”

The largely untested Tshisekedi, son of the late, charismatic opposition lea­der Etienne, is set to be inaugurated on Tuesday. His supporters who had gathered outside the court cheered. “It’s a shame that Mr Fayulu wants to stay isolated,” said Tsh­is­ekedi’s spokesman, Vidiye Tshimanga. He said the two men once had been part of an opposition coalition demanding that Kabila step down.

The court’s declaration came shortly after the African Union in an unprecedented move asked Congo to delay announcing the final election results, citing “serious doubts” about the vote. It planned to send a high-level delegation on Monday to find a way out of the crisis, fearing unrest spilling across borders of the vast Central African nation.

Congo’s government repl­ied it was up to the courts. The court turned away Fay­ulu’s request for a recount in the Dec 30 vote.

The court said Tshisekedi won with more than seven million votes, or 38 per cent, and Fayulu received 34 per cent. However, leaked data published by some media outlets, attributed to the electoral commission and representing 86 per cent of the votes, show that Fayulu won 59 per cent while Tshisekedi received 19 per cent.

Fayulu, a lawmaker and businessman who is outspoken about cleaning up Con­go’s sprawling corruption, is widely seen as posing more of a threat to Kabila, his allies and the vast wealth they have amassed.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2019