La Francophonie's head calls for restraint after announcement of election results in DR Congo

Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) - The Secretary General of the world community of French-speaking countries, known as La Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo on Friday called on the stakeholders in the recent presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to maintain a peaceful climate after provisional results were released on Thursday.

She further called on political leaders and electoral contestants to pursue any disputes through peaceful means, dialogue and in accordance with the law and interests of the Congolese people, said a statement issued by the organisation and made available to PANA in Kigali.

In addition, Mushikiwabo stressed that La Francophonie has mobilized throughout the election process a multiform support to contribute, with all its international partners, to the holding of peaceful elections in DR Congo.

According to news reports, Felix Tshisekedi has vowed to be the president "of all Congolese" after the Democratic Republic of Congo's electoral commission declared him the winner of the long-delayed elections.

Tshisekedi received more than seven million votes compared with about 6.4 million for rival Martin Fayulu, who had warned against manipulation.

The result could lead to the vast country's first democratic transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960, with President Joseph Kabila due to leave office this month after 18 years in power.

-0- PANA TWA/AR 11Jan2019