EU Urges Improvements In DRC Elections After Tshisekedi Win

Tshisekedi won 73.47 percent of vote at the December 20 election, the court said.

DR Congo held presidential, legislative, regional and local elections on that day, which opposition leaders called a « sham ».

A spokesperson said the EU said it « took note » of the ruling from the court and saluted « the enthusiasm and the desire of Congolese citizens to have asserted their voices, calmly despite the logistical difficulties ».

The 27-nation bloc said it « wishes the authorities and all citizens every success at the dawn of this second term ».

Brussels, however, pointed out that election observers « documented numerous cases of irregularities and incidents which affected the entire electoral process ».

It called on the electoral authority and courts « to respond to these concerns and to pursue the next stages of the electoral process with the greatest transparency ».

More than 40 million people out of the 100 million inhabitants of the vast country were registered to vote on December 20 for president, as well as for national and regional lawmakers and municipal councillors.

The voting was officially extended by a day to account for problems, and continued for days afterwards in remote areas, according to observers.

Nine opposition candidates signed a declaration in late December rejecting what they termed a « sham » election and called for a re-run.

The final figures announced by the court on Tuesday differed only slightly from provisional results that election officials had already made public.

del/pvh