African Heads of State congratulate DRC's Tshisekedi on re-election

Democratic Republic of Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi holds a press conference with France's president as part of their meeting at the Palace of the Nation in Kinshasa, on March 4, 2023.[File,VOA]

Congratulatory messages continue to pour for the Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi for his win in the just concluded elections.

African Heads of State have congratulated Tshisekedi for winning a second term in a landslide victory. 

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu, Comoro’s President and the African Union chairperson Azali Assoumani and Burundi’s Evariste Ndayishimiye have sent their congratulations to Tshisekedi for getting a resounding win during the just-concluded presidential vote.

"Heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency, President Félix Tshisekedi on being re-elected as the President of the DRC. I am looking forward to continuing working together in fostering the relations between our two countries and the East African Community (EAC),” President Samia said. 

His Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa hailed Congolese voters for maintaining a peaceful poll.  

“I warmly congratulate His Excellency Félix Antonie Tshisekedi on his landslide re-election as the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the same spirit, I thank the people of the DR Congo for exercising their vote even then under challenging conditions, urging them to keep the peace for the stability and development of their country. Zimbabwe remains a true and consistent friend of the Congo, itself a valued member of the SADC family,” said President Mnangagwa. 

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga also congratulated Tshisekedi on the re-election. 

“Congratulations to President Felix Tshisekedi on his election and to the Congolese voters for aspirations peacefully expressed and realised. Wishing him the very best as he continues with the crucial mission of steering the DRC back on course,” he wrote.

He also endorsed Tshisekedi’s leadership to bring positive change and prosperity towards steering the Congolese.

Tshisekedi won a second term in office with a landslide victory on Sunday, December 31, 2023. 

Provisional results from the single-round presidential ballot declared by the country’s electoral commission showed that the incumbent won 72 percent of the votes beating Moses Katumbi who came second with 18 percent.

Opposition leaders in DRC have however dismissed his win as a “sham” as the constitutional court is expected to confirm the provisional results on January 10.

Tshisekedi, 60 first came to power in January 2019 after a disputed election that many observers said that he had lost.