Audio By Carbonatix
A team of international observers has said irregularities in DR Congo's presidential election were so serious that the results "lack credibility".
The Carter Center highlighted numerous problems in the vote-counting process.
The official results announced on Friday gave President Joseph Kabila 49% of the vote against 32% for opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi.
Mr Tshisekedi says he won the election and is the country's president. He has urged supporters to stay calm.
The opposition have announced plans to hold protest marches next week.
"We insist that the protests will be non-violent. The population know this may be a long, long walk but they are ready for it," opposition spokesman Albert Moleka told Reuters news agency.
Four people died in post-election violence after the results came out.
Four other opposition candidates have said the election was rigged and should be annulled.
Huge difference
In a statement, the Carter Center, which had 26 teams of observers monitoring the elections, pointed to differences in the vote count between areas where Mr Kabila had strong support and areas that favoured Mr Tshisekedi.
Some constituencies in Katanga province "reported impossibly high rates of 99 to 100% voter turnout with all, or nearly all, votes going to incumbent President Joseph Kabila", the Center said.
Meanwhile in Kinshasa, where Mr Tshisekedi has strong support, results from nearly 2,000 polling station stations were lost - roughly a fifth of the city's total.
The Center said the violations it had documented does not mean "the final order of candidates is necessarily different" from official results.
But it said that further analysis of preliminary results could reveal further discrepancies in the vote counting process.
The 78-year-old opposition leader said the results were a "provocation".
"It is scandalous and vulgar. We have done our own calculations and I received 54% to Kabila's 26%. His term is finished. I am the president," Mr Tshisekedi said.
He later appealed to his supporters to "stay calm and peaceful", an appeal echoed by the EU, the US, the UK, France and ex-colonial power Belgium.
Mr Tshisekedi is hopeful that the international community can mediate a solution to the crisis, his spokesman says.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for "any differences regarding the provisional results of the polls to be resolved peacefully through available legal and mediation mechanisms".
Mr Kabila, 40, has been president since 2001 following the death of his father, Laurent.
In 2006 he won the first elections since the end of a five-year conflict and is due to be sworn in on 20 December for his second term.
But his victory must first be confirmed by the Supreme Court.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Stonebwoy set to fill OVO Arena Wembley on August 15 with BHIM Festival
8 minutes -
The African Union’s expanding footprint in strengthening cross-border tourism and trade unity in Africa
14 minutes -
Today’s Front pages: Tuesday, May 26, 2026
16 minutes -
Netanyahu vows to ‘increase the blows’ against Hezbollah as Israel intensifies strikes in LebanonÂ
25 minutes -
US strikes Iranian missile sites and boats near Strait of Hormuz amid peace talksÂ
31 minutes -
Why it’s time to change Ghana’s cocoa law
36 minutes -
Adamus Resources defends reputation amid renewed public scrutiny
40 minutes -
GN Savings and Loans could resume operations before end of 2026 — Dr Kweku Nduom
1 hour -
Telecel CEO speaks on closing Africa’s gender gap in technology at Rwandan summit
1 hour -
Analysis: Why the cedi is depreciating
2 hours -
What are they hiding? – Tech consultant questions rush for 15 digital bills
2 hours -
To nationalise or transform? Joy Business hosts roundtable on Ghana’s extractive future
2 hours -
This is not how modern innovation ecosystems are built – Tech analyst warns over NITA Bill
2 hours -
A web developer could become a criminal – NITA Bill sparks fear among young innovators
3 hours -
Mercy Johnson faces backlash over $18.24 menstrual kit
3 hours