Opposition in DR Congo threatens to press ahead with protest despite ban by government

Opposition candidates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s presidential election vow to rally in the capital on Wednesday, despite authorities banning the protest.

Early results show the incumbent president, Felix Tshisekedi, leading following the chaotic poll.

Martin Fayulu, a main opposition candidate in the December 20 election, said in an interview with Reuters that the opposition candidates who planned the unified rally over suspected electoral irregularities will march in the capital, Kinshasa, because they were confident the poll was manipulated.

The threat to press ahead came hours after Vice Prime Minister Peter Kazadi said the march had no legal basis and was aimed at undermining the work of the election commission, which was still compiling results.

The protest organisers have heavily criticised the decision of the election commission known as CENI to extend voting at polling stations that failed to open on election day, calling it unconstitutional and demanding a full re-run of the poll.

As of Tuesday, the electoral body said Tshisekedi is leading the remaining 18 contenders, with almost 79% of the 6.1 million votes counted so far.

Businessman Moise Katumbi and former energy executive Martin Fayulu were second and third, respectively, with about 14% and more than 4% of the vote.