AU, calls for suspension of DRC final results

The African Union (AU) has called for the suspension of the proclamation of the final results of the elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This follows consultations between the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Paul Kagame, who is also President of Rwanda and leaders of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

This is according to a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today, by Zambia’s First Secretary for Press and Tourism in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Inutu Mwanza.

Mrs Mwanza disclosed that a high-level consultative meeting of Heads of State and Government took place yesterday, January 17, at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The meeting exchanged views on the situation in the DRC in the wake of the presidential, national and provincial legislative elections of December 30th, 2018 and agreed on a way forward.

She stated that initiative is part of the African-led efforts, in the spirit of continental solidarity, to assist the DRC political stakeholders and its citizenry to successfully conclude the electoral process and preserve peace and stability in that country.

Mrs Mwanza said the meeting was chaired by the Chairperson of the AU, and attended by 16 Heads of State and Government and representatives from SADC, the ICGLR and other African stakeholders.

Chairperson of the African Union Commission, AUC, Moussa Faki Mahamat was also in attendance.

Mrs Mwanza added that the meeting was briefed on the electoral process in the DRC and subsequent developments by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DRC.

She added that the meeting also followed updates from the Chairpersons of the ICGLR, SADC and the AU Commission, and had in-depth exchanges of views thereafter.

Mrs Mwanza further said the Heads of State and Government attending the meeting concluded that there were serious doubts on the conformity of the provisional results, as proclaimed by the National Independent Electoral Commission, with the verdict of the ballot boxes.

She pointed out that the Heads of State and Government agreed to dispatch shortly to the DRC a high-level delegation.

The delegation will compromise the Chairperson of the African Union and other Heads of State and Government, and Chairperson of the AU Commission, to interact with all Congolese stakeholders, with the view to reaching a consensus on a way out of the post-electoral crisis in the country.

Mrs Mwansa also said the meeting urged all concerned actors in the DRC to interact positively with the high-level African delegation in the interest of their country and its people.

She further explained that the Heads of State and Government expressed their appreciation to the Chairperson of the Union for having taken the initiative of this consultative meeting.

They also thanked the AU Commission and the Ethiopian authorities for the practical steps taken to ensure the successful holding of the meeting.

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s electoral commission declared opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi the winner of the December 30th, 2018 polls.

However, Martin Fayulu, dismissed the results as electoral coup.

President Edgar Lungu who was among the Heads of State that attended the consultative meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, arrived back home in the early hours of this morning around 01:00hours.