The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, was on Saturday, January 20, 2023, sworn in for a second term of five years amid opposition protests over alleged election irregularities.
Here are few things to know about the reelected president, Félix Tshisekedi.
1. Tshisekedi has been the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo since January 24, 2019. He is the 5th president of the french speaking country.
2. Tshisekedi became president after emerging from the shadow of his father, who was one of Congo’s most popular figures. The presidency eluded Etienne Tshisekedi, but his 2017 death helped catapult his son into limelight.
3. Tshisekedi won reelection with more than 70% of the vote, according to the election commission.
According to the election commission, many polling stations were late in opening or didn’t open at all while some lacked materials. Voter turnout was just 40%
However, opposition candidates and their supporters questioned the validity of the election, which was mired in logistical problems.
4. Tshisekedi victory in the 2023 elections was challenged in court by his opposition, however, Congo’s constitutional court earlier this month rejected a petition by an opposition candidate to annul the election. The court ruled that malpractice allegations were unfounded and that Tshisekedi secured “a majority of votes cast.”
5. The president is the leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPs)
