SADC also urges government of national unity to ease crisis after poll result contested

A powerful regional body of African states has called for a recount in the contested presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The unexpected move underlines growing worries that instead of marking a turning point for the troubled country, the 30 December vote and the deepening political crisis it has triggered will instead lead to a slide into anarchy and violence.

Martin Fayulu’s campaign team says he won 60% of vote, fuelling febrile atmosphere as police and soldiers deployed across country

The runner-up in Democratic Republic of the Congo’s presidential election says he in fact won the vote by a landslide, as rising violence across the country fuels fears of a wider law and order breakdown.

Martin Fayulu’s campaign team claimed it had evidence its candidate had scored more than 60% of the votes in the much-delayed election on 30 December, 42 points more than Félix Tshisekedi, who was declared the winner by the electoral commission early on Thursday.

Claims provisional winner Tshisekedi has done deal with former ruler may be more than sour grapes

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an election is not a single decisive event, but just one part of a never-ending struggle to gain and keep power in which living to fight another day is as important as landing a knockout punch.

Of the half dozen or so major players a year ago, only two or three remain standing.

Security forces at election commission’s offices amid fears of violence over claims of vote-rigging

Riot police have been deployed to protect election officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as it braced for the announcement of the results of the presidential vote held 11 days ago.

Security forces took up positions outside the offices of the DRC’s election commission and elsewhere in the capital Kinshasa, amid fears that violence would mar the first electoral transfer of power in 59 years of independence.