Congo set to announce winner after chaotic election

The full results of Democratic Republic of Congo’s election are expected shortly, with President Félix Tshisekedi enjoying a commanding lead over opposition candidates who have demanded a rerun.

President Tshisekedi has received about 72% of the votes announced so far, and appears set for a second term.

The opposition said the problems were part of a deliberate plan to allow the results to be rigged in favour of Mr Tshisekedi.

This was dismissed by the head of the election commission who said the opposition candidates wanted a new election because “they know they lost… they are bad losers”.

Football tycoon and mining magnate Moise Katumbi is in second place with about 18% of the vote, while former oil executive Martin Fayulu, who claims he was robbed of victory in the 2018 election, is in third place with about 5%.

It is not clear if any of the 18 opposition candidates will challenge the results in court – Mr Katumbi has already said it isn’t worth it, because the courts are not independent.

Voters also chose parliamentary, provincial and municipal representatives, with about 100,000 candidates in total.