Submit this form
Home News Videos Music Photos Facebook Twitter Friends Newsletter Podcasts Mobile RSS
Bemba rejects poll results


©  MS Encarta/Kimmo Montyla

Jean-Pierre Bemba

KINSHASA, 17 Nov 2006 (IRIN) - Jean-Pierre Bemba, challenger to President Joseph Kabila, has rejected the provisional results of the run-off presidential poll announced by the Democratic Republic of Congo's Independent Electoral Commission.

"I regret to say to our people and the international community that I cannot accept the results that are far from reflecting the truth of the election results," Bemba told a news conference on Thursday in the capital, Kinshasa.

The commission announced on Wednesday that Kabila had won the 29 October poll by garnering 58 percent of the vote, against Bemba's 43.5 percent.

"I promise to use all the legal channels to respect the will of our people," Bemba said, without giving details of what he planned to do.

Bemba accused the electoral commission of failing to notify the candidates of the results 48 hours earlier - as agreed - to give them time to react. He said he was surprised to learn of the results through the media.

He said about 1,481,291 people voted outside the areas where they had registered, representing 10 percent of the votes cast. Because of this, Bemba said, he had submitted six complaints to the electoral commission.

"The commission only replied to two of my complaints and in a non-satisfactory manner," he said.

A political coalition known as Union pour la Nation that supports Bemba's candidature had, two days earlier, indicated that according to the results of the 'procès verbaux' of their witnesses, Bemba was in the lead with 52.2 percent of the votes, contrary to the commission's provisional results.

The commission's provisional results are subject to endorsement by the country's Supreme Court.

The presidential poll marks the end of the DRC's three-year transition to democracy. The elections, which began in June with the first presidential round and parliamentary polls, were the first democratic elections in the country in 40 years.

Civil war in the DRC officially ended in 2003, marking the beginning of the transition, but parts of the vast country, especially the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, as well as the northeastern district of Ituri, have remained volatile because of activities by militias and other armed groups.

ei/js/mw


Related articles


  1. 'Deadly environment' plus 'political and social' obstacles hinder Ebola fight, Security Council hears (July 24, 2019)
  2. Ebola outbreak declared an international Public Health Emergency (July 17, 2019)
  3. Felix Tshisekedi Sworn In as DR Congo President (January 24, 2019)
  4. Constitutional Court Declares Tshisekedi Winner of Presidential Election (January 19, 2019)
  5. Felix Tshisekedi Vows to Be the President of All Congolese (January 10, 2019)
  6. Felix Tshisekedi Elected DR Congo President (January 10, 2019)
  7. DR Congo Delays Results of December Election (January 6, 2019)
  8. At least 30 dead after massacres in Ituri (March 2, 2018)
  9. Botswana Urges Joseph Kabila to Step Down (February 26, 2018)
  10. No elections in DR Congo in December without electronic voting machines: INEC (February 13, 2018)
  11. US Warns DR Congo Against Electronic Voting for Delayed Election (February 12, 2018)
  12. Felix Tshisekedi accuses INEC of illegally prolonging Kabila's mandate (October 24, 2017)
  13. DRC Seeks Arrest of Presidential Candidate Moise Katumbi (May 19, 2016)
  14. Papa Wemba Is Buried in Kinshasa (May 4, 2016)
  15. Papa Wemba Awarded Highest National Honor as Thousands Pay Tribute (May 2, 2016)
  16. Rights Groups: DR Congo Must Free Pro-democracy Activists (April 13, 2015)
  17. Police Open Fire on Crowd Protesting Election Law Change (January 19, 2015)
  18. ICC Confirms 14-Year Sentence Against Thomas Lubanga (December 1, 2014)
  19. Etienne Tshisekedi Evacuated to Belgium for Medical Treatment (August 16, 2014)
  20. ICC sentences Germain Katanga to 12 years (May 23, 2014)
  21. Kerry Calls on Kabila to Honor Constitution (May 4, 2014)
  22. Kerry in DR Congo for Security Talks (May 3, 2014)
  23. ICC finds Germain Katanga guilty of war crimes and crime against humanity (March 7, 2014)
  24. DR Congo Takes Chairmanship of COMESA at Summit in Kinshasa (February 26, 2014)
  25. Bosco Ntaganda Attacked Civilians on Ethnic Grounds, ICC Prosecutor Says (February 10, 2014)
  26. DR Congo Honors Nelson Mandela, Hero and Model for Humanity (December 6, 2013)
  27. Kabila Congratulates Congo Army for Defeating M23 Rebels (October 30, 2013)
  28. DR Congo Eases Process for Starting a New Business (June 3, 2013)
  29. Rebel Leader Bosco Ntaganda Makes First Appearence Before the ICC (March 26, 2013)
  30. Bosco Ntaganda in the International Criminal Court's custody (March 22, 2013)


Live TV Congo Radio en ligne Radio
Available on App Store
Get it on Google Play



Contact Us | About Us | Édition en Français | French Edition

© CongoPlanet.com. All rights reserved.