DRC Clashes Erupt as Opposition Demands Election Rerun Amid Allegations of Fraud

Violent clashes erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo as police clashed with opposition supporters demanding the annulment of last week’s presidential poll.

The leading opposition candidates labeled the election as a sham and called for a rerun. In the capital, Kinshasa, police fired tear gas and engaged in clashes with protesters. The government had prohibited the protest, citing a refusal to tolerate actions undermining the electoral process.

Although election officials have not disclosed the exact number of opened polling stations or voters, President Etienne Tshisekedi leads with nearly 80% of the counted votes. The opposition accuses the electoral commission of fraud and ballot stuffing to secure Tshisekedi’s victory, claims the commission denies.

The elections were marked by logistical delays and administrative chaos, leading to extended voting in some areas. Insecurity in the east prevented elections in certain regions controlled by armed groups competing for control of the country’s mineral-rich areas.