DR Congo’s top court rebukes election runner-up for declaring self “legitimate president”

DR Congo’s top court rebukes election runner-up for declaring self “legitimate president”

A day after the Constitutional Court of the Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed Felix Tshisekedi as the winner of the just concluded polls, the apex court has condemned election runner-up, Martin Fayulu, for contesting its declaration.

The Constitutional Court ruled that a legal challenge to the result filed by Fayulu was inadmissible. “Felix Tshisekedi will become the fifth president of the republic,” government spokesman Lambert Mende said as he welcomed the judgement.

Moments after the declaration, Fayulu said the ruling had opened the way to a “constitutional coup d’etat,” raising fears of more violence.

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Fayulu issued statements dismissing the ruling. “The constitutional court has just confirmed that it serves a dictatorial regime … by validating false results, (and enabling) a constitutional coup d’etat,” he said in one.

“I am now considering myself as the sole legitimate President of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he added in another statement. He called for people to mount peaceful demonstrations across the country.

Reports say Fayulu has urged his supporters to take to the streets to peacefully protest while also accusing the court of validating false results. “It’s no secret … that you have elected me president,” he said.

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