What Happened: Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu has declared himself the winner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's recent presidential election and announced that he will challenge the official results in the country's constitutional court, Reuters reported Jan. 11.
Why It Matters: Fayulu's announcement highlights the ongoing crisis over the Democratic Republic of the Congo's recent election, which has drawn widespread skepticism. Fayulu might call for protests if the judiciary rejects his appeal, which could plunge the country into a prolonged period of violence.
Background: The Democratic Republic of the Congo's independent electoral commission has declared opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi the winner of the country's presidential election, which took place Dec. 30, 2018. The Roman Catholic Church has announced that the official election results do not match its findings, and France and Belgium have both expressed skepticism.
Read More:
- Congo: The Election Results Are In. Now What? (Jan. 10, 2019)
- No Matter Who Wins the Congo's Election, a Rough Road Awaits (Jan. 7, 2019)
- The Congo Elections Will Be Flawed. What Happens After That? (Dec. 19, 2018)
