DR Congo – When DR Congo’s top court and electoral commission declared him winner of the disputed presidential elections, Felix Tshisekedi, leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, gave God the glory and called Him the master of time and circumstances.
Christians on social media believe the 55-year-old enters the presidential office with “prophetic grace.”
They attribute this to his meeting with South African based Pastor Alph Lukau of Alleluia Ministries International, where he [Felix Tshisekedi] received words of encouragement and prayers for the journey ahead of the polls in December.
“When God is on your side, they can say whatever they want, do whatever they want, but they can’t manipulate your destination,” the preacher was quoted as telling Felix Tshisekedi.
Mr Tshisekedi was on 24 January 2019 sworn in as the new president of DR Congo, cementing the Central African nation’s first peaceful transfer of power since independence nearly 60 years ago.
He takes over from Joseph Kabila, who led the country since 2001.
According to the Associated Press, many Congolese hope that Tshisekedi will bring change after 18 years of rule by Kabila, who in a final address on Wednesday night urged the country to unite in support of the incoming leader.
begin his leadership on the knees
Kabila was quoted as saying he is stepping aside with no regrets.
Although Tshisekedi was declared President, the DR Congo Catholic Church and its 40,000 election observers said the real winner was another opposition candidate, Martin Fayulu.
“I ask the entire international community not to recognise a power that has neither legitimacy nor legal standing to represent the Congolese people,” Fayulu said of Tshisekedi, declaring himself “the only legitimate president”.
Local media sources however note that few Congolese and International community leaders have taken up Fayulu’s call for peaceful protest, appearing instead to accept Tshisekedi’s win.
On Sunday, the Constitutional Court said Fayulu’s claims were “unfounded” and he had failed to prove any inaccuracies in the figures, describing his call for a recount as “absurd”.
“Only the Independent National Election Commission (CENI) has produced authentic and sincere results,” judge Noel Kilomba said.
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