Opposition leader, Felix Tshisekedi, wins Congo presidential election

Felix Tshisekedi, leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDSP), has won the presidential election in Democratic Republic of Congo.

His win is the first for an opposition party in the country.

Tshisekedi is the son of late opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, and will take over from President Joseph Kabila who is stepping down after 18 years in office.

His party, UDSP is DR Congo’s largest opposition party.

In the provisional results released by the country’s electoral commission, Tshisekedi defeated Martin Fayulu, his rival who had since rejected the outcome— describing it as having “nothing to do with the truth of the ballot box”.

If his victory is passed by the constitutional court, this would signal Congo’s first democratic transition of power since 1960 when the country gained independence.

Kabila’s preferred candidate, Emmanuel Shadary, came a distant third at the poll.

Addressing supporters at UDSP headquarters in Kinshasa, Tshisekedi said Kabila is no longer a rival.

“I pay tribute to President Joseph Kabila and today we should no longer see him as an adversary, but rather, a partner in democratic change in our country,” he said.

There are reports that the electoral process was marred by irregularities, and this, many fear may lead to an uprising between supporters of the major contenders.