The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has said that he has taken notice with a satisfied view of the provisional results of the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo released on Thursday. Felix Tshisekedi was declared the winner of the countrys long-delayed elections. The election was rejected by rival Martin Fayulu, who was backed by opposition heavyweights and had led in polling prior to the December 30 vote. Tshisekedi won with 38.57 percent of more than 18 million ballots cast. According to his statement on the results, Mahamat said that the AU, “takes cognizance” of the provisional results, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI). “The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates his congratulations to the people, political actors, civil society and the relevant national institutions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the conduct of the elections under conditions deemed satisfactory by the African Union Election Observation Mission led by President Dioncounda Traoré,” the statement stated. Mahamat has also called on all concerned stakeholders to act in a way that consolidates democracy and preserves peace in the country, as they wait for the final official results. “In this context, it is important that any challenge to the provisional results, including claims of inconsistencies with the verdict of the ballot box, be pursued peacefully, through avenues provided by the existing national legal framework, and political dialogue among all stakeholders,” the statement also reads. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission emphasised that, regardless of the final official results of the elections, the situation in the DRC requires “genuine national consensus based on respect for democratic principles and human rights, as well as the preservation and consolidation of peace.”
