Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu speaks to the press at his headquarters in Kinshasa, Congo, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Fayulu, who came second in the presidential poll behind Felix Tshisekedi, called the results fraudulent. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu speaks to the press at his headquarters in Kinshasa, Congo, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Fayulu, who came second in the presidential poll behind Felix Tshisekedi, called the results fraudulent. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The Latest on Congo’s presidential election (all times local):

5:50 a.m.

Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu denounced the Congo election results as an “electoral hold up” that were “rigged, fabricated and invented” and do “not reflect the truth of the ballots.” He called on the Congolese people to “raise as one men to protect victory.”

Fayulu also called on the Catholic Church to release the results it got from its team of 40,000 observers who recorded voting tallies posted at each of the polling centers. Last week, the Catholic Church said their observations showed a clear winner.

Several diplomats briefed on the matter confirmed to The Associated Press that the figures compiled by the Catholic Church showed that Fayulu won an absolute majority of the votes. Two diplomats also said that all major observation missions, including from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community, showed similar results with Fayulu the winner.

“How long are we going to negotiate results?” asked Fayulu, of what he said was a deal made to declare Tshisekedi the winner. “In 2006, Jean-Pierre Bemba’s victory was stolen, in 2011 Étienne Tshisekedi’s victory was stolen. In 2018 victory won’t be stolen from Martin Fayulu.”

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4:15 a.m.

A spokesman says the United Nations secretary-general “takes note” of the results of Congo’s presidential election.

Congo’s electoral commission, in a surprise for many, announced that opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi won with 38 percent of the vote.

The opposition candidate who led in polls and had pledged to combat Congo’s widespread corruption, Martin Fayulu, is expected to comment to reporters shortly.

The streets of the capital, Kinshasa, an opposition stronghold, are now quiet after a burst of celebration by people outside the electoral commission’s offices.

The U.N statement calls on all parties to “refrain from violence” and “live up to their responsibility in preserving stability.”

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3:30 a.m.

Scores of Congolese are dancing and cheering outside the electoral commission at 3:30 in the morning after opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi was declared the winner of the presidential election.

This is the first time the vast country has seen a peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960.

The election had been delayed for more than two years as many Congolese worried that President Joseph Kabila would try to stay in power.

Tshisekedi is the son of late opposition leader Etienne but is relatively unknown and untested. Speculation swirled this week that Kabila’s government sought to make a deal as hopes faded for a ruling party win.

The opposition leader and corruption fighter who had led in polling, Martin Fayulu, finished second in the vote.

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3:10 a.m.

Congo’s electoral commission says opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has won the presidential election as the vast country braces for possible protests over alleged rigging.

Tshisekedi, who received more than 7 million votes, had not been widely considered the leading candidate. Some observers have suggested that President Joseph Kabila’s government sought to make a deal as hopes faded for a win for ruling party candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary. Shadary received more than 4 million votes.

It is not immediately clear whether opposition candidate Martin Fayulu, who led in polling and warned against manipulation, will contest the results. The constitutional court has 14 days to validate them. Fayulu received more than 6 million votes.

Tshisekedi, son of late opposition icon Etienne yet relatively unknown, has achieved what his father pursued for decades.

The delayed results come after international pressure to announce an outcome that reflected the will of the people. Election observers had reported numerous irregularities.

Kabila has ruled since 2001 in the troubled nation rich in the minerals key to smartphones around the world. This could be Congo’s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence in 1960.

___

2 a.m.

Congo’s electoral commission has begun announcing election results — starting with the names of hundreds of people who won provincial deputy seats.

The already delayed process could take hours before reaching the results of the presidential election.

Residents of the capital, Kinshasa, are still watching the live broadcast on state television long after midnight.

The vast country voted on Dec. 30 for a successor to President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled since 2001. The opposition and activist groups have warned of protests if the results do not match “the truth of the ballot boxes.”

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12:10 a.m.

Congo has marked midnight as the country waits for the delayed announcement of the results of the presidential election.

State television shows a noisy room where the electoral commission had been expected to make an announcement an hour ago.

Congolese activist groups have urged people to “be ready to massively take to the streets” if the commission does not publish results in accordance with “the truth of the ballot boxes.”

Congo on Dec. 30 voted for a successor to departing President Joseph Kabila. The delay in announcing results has led some Congolese to suspect possible manipulation in favor of the ruling party.

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5:45 p.m.

The United States is giving its citizens in Congo succinct advice: “Depart the country.”

A new U.S. Embassy security alert says Congo’s electoral commission is soon expected to announce results of the presidential election. It warns of possible crowds gathering to hear the results.

Congolese activist groups have urged people to “be ready to massively take to the streets” if the commission does not publish results in accordance with “the truth of the ballot boxes.”

Congo on Dec. 30 voted for a successor to departing President Joseph Kabila. The delay in announcing results has led some Congolese to suspect possible manipulation in favor of the ruling party.

___

5:10 p.m.

Congo’s electoral commission says “everything is ready” for provisional results of the presidential election to be announced today.

Spokeswoman Marie-France Idikayi tells The Associated Press that “we are waiting for the final deliberations of the electoral commission plenary session to end but the announcement room is prepared.”

State television is in place to broadcast the results. Anti-riot police with water cannon are outside the building.

Congo on Dec. 30 voted for a successor to departing President Joseph Kabila. Congolese activist groups are urging people to “be ready to massively take to the streets” if the commission does not publish results in accordance with “the truth of the ballot boxes.”

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3 p.m.

Congolese activist groups are urging people to “be ready to massively take to the streets” if the electoral commission does not publish presidential election results in accordance with “the truth of the ballot boxes.”

A statement by more than 300 organizations also alleges that electoral commission president Corneille Nangaa has been instructed by President Joseph Kabila’s government to publish results from electronic transmission instead of from manual counting.

Carbone Beni with the Filimbi movement asserts that the manual court shows that the ruling party’s candidate did not win.

Nangaa has blamed the delay in announcing results on the opposition’s insistence on manual counting. Congo’s first use of electronic voting machines in the Dec. 30 election led to widespread concern that they could be used to manipulate results.

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2:15 p.m.

The presidents of South Africa and Zambia are urging Congo’s electoral commission to “speedily” complete vote-counting and announce the delayed results of the Dec. 30 presidential election.

The statement released by South Africa’s foreign ministry reflects pressure on Congo by regional powers who don’t want to see the vast Central African nation return to widespread violence.

The statement says South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Zambian President Edgar Lungu warn that the delay in releasing results “can lead to suspicions and compromise peace and stability of the country.”

Congo’s electoral commission is meeting to discuss the results and could announce them as early as Wednesday. Anti-riot police are positioned outside.

Congo’s government has rejected Western pressure over the long-delayed election, calling it interference.

___

11:55 a.m.

Anti-riot police with water cannon and armored vehicles are outside Congo’s electoral commission ahead of the announcement of the first results of the presidential election.

Residents of the capital, Kinshasa, say the heavy security presence is a bad sign.

Resident John Kabamba says it “may be a message that the publication (of the results) won’t meet the expectations of the Congolese people.”

The first results could be announced as early as Wednesday.

Congo on Dec. 30 voted for a successor to departing President Joseph Kabila. He backs ruling party candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, who is under European Union sanctions.

Leading opposition candidate Martin Fayulu has urged the electoral commission to announce the true results as quickly as possible and warned it not to “play with fire, it is very dangerous.”</s>Democratic Republic of Congo opposition leader Martin Fayulu said Friday he will challenge the official election result at the country’s constitutional court, as one of his campaign aides claimed his candidate had won in a landslide.

Preliminary results announced early Thursday by Congo’s electoral commission said another opposition leader, Felix Tshisekedi, had come first in the Dec. 30 presidential election with 38.6% of the vote.</s>Congo opposition candidate Fayulu says he will challenge presidential election results in court

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo opposition candidate Fayulu says he will challenge presidential election results in court.</s>An opposition candidate has been declared winner of the contentious presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The electoral commission in the wee hours of Thursday declared Felix Tshisekedi winner of the country’s December 30 presidential election.

Now this news has been greeted with some surprise and in fact in what is the latest Martin Fayulu, another top opposition candidate, who had been tipped by many and thought to be in the early results lead has rejected the election results.</s>KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo opposition candidate Fayulu says he will challenge presidential election results in court.</s>The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The Latest on Congo’s presidential election results. All times local:

Supporters of opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi took to the streets of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, Thursday morning to celebrate his win in the presidential election, that was announced by the electoral commission.

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The candidate of Congo’s ruling party, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, who came third in the official results, has through his spokeswoman congratulated the winner, Felix Tshisekedi. Me Aime Kilolo, spokeswoman for Shadary, said the electoral commission’s announcement of Tshisekedi as the winner was “the will of the people.” She said Shadary would make a statement on the results in a few hours.

Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu denounced the Congo election results as an “electoral hold up” that were “rigged, fabricated and invented” and do “not reflect the truth of the ballots.” He called on the Congolese people to “rise as one man to protect victory.”

Fayulu also called on the Catholic Church to release the results it got from its team of 40,000 observers who recorded voting tallies posted at each of the polling centers. Last week, the Catholic Church said their observations showed a clear winner.

Several diplomats briefed on the matter confirmed to The Associated Press that the figures compiled by the Catholic Church showed that Fayulu won an absolute majority of the votes. Two diplomats also said that all major observation missions, including from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community, showed similar results with Fayulu the winner.

“How long are we going to negotiate results?” asked Fayulu, of what he said was a deal made to declare Tshisekedi the winner. “In 2006, Jean-Pierre Bemba’s victory was stolen, in 2011 Étienne Tshisekedi’s victory was stolen. In 2018 victory won’t be stolen from Martin Fayulu.”

Congo opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has been declared winner of the long-delayed, disorganized and controversial presidential election, in an announcement by the electoral commission early Thursday that surprised many, as the vast country braced for possible protests over alleged rigging.

Tshisekedi, who received more than 7 million votes, or 38 percent, according to the official results, had not been widely considered the leading candidate and is relatively untested. The son of late opposition leader Etienne, who pursued Congo’s presidency for many years, he startled Congolese shortly before the election by breaking away from an opposition effort to unite behind a single candidate.

Tshisekedi’s victory was quickly denounced by opposition leader Martin Fayulu, who claimed the results were rigged. Fayulu denounced the results as an “electoral hold up” and urged protests.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.</s>KINSHASA, Congo (AP) - The Latest on Congo's presidential election results. All times local:

Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu denounced the Congo election results as an "electoral hold up" that were "rigged, fabricated and invented" and do "not reflect the truth of the ballots." He called on the Congolese people to "rise as one man to protect victory."

Fayulu also called on the Catholic Church to release the results it got from its team of 40,000 observers who recorded voting tallies posted at each of the polling centers. Last week, the Catholic Church said their observations showed a clear winner.

Several diplomats briefed on the matter confirmed to The Associated Press that the figures compiled by the Catholic Church showed that Fayulu won an absolute majority of the votes. Two diplomats also said that all major observation missions, including from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community, showed similar results with Fayulu the winner.

"How long are we going to negotiate results?" asked Fayulu, of what he said was a deal made to declare Tshisekedi the winner. "In 2006, Jean-Pierre Bemba's victory was stolen, in 2011 Étienne Tshisekedi's victory was stolen. In 2018 victory won't be stolen from Martin Fayulu."

Congo opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has been declared winner of the long-delayed, disorganized and controversial presidential election, in an announcement by the electoral commission early Thursday that surprised many, as the vast country braced for possible protests over alleged rigging.

Tshisekedi, who received more than 7 million votes, or 38 percent, according to the official results, had not been widely considered the leading candidate and is relatively untested. The son of late opposition leader Etienne, who pursued Congo's presidency for many years, he startled Congolese shortly before the election by breaking away from an opposition effort to unite behind a single candidate.

Tshisekedi's victory was quickly denounced by opposition leader Martin Fayulu, who claimed the results were rigged. Fayulu denounced the results as an "electoral hold up" and urged protests.

Kinshasa resident watch the preliminary results of the elections broadcast on a television in Kinshasa, Congo, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. As Congo anxiously awaits the outcome of the presidential election, many in the capital say they are convinced that the opposition won and that the delay in announcing results is allowing manipulation in favor of the ruling party. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)</s>KINSHASA (Reuters) - Losing Democratic Republic of Congo presidential candidate Martin Fayulu said on Friday he would challenge the election results in country’s highest court on Saturday at 9 a.m. (0800 GMT).

The national electoral commission on Thursday declared another opposition leader, Felix Tshisekedi, the winner of the Dec. 30 election, but Fayulu’s campaign says its tallies show that Fayulu won a landslide victory.</s>Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was “very concerned about discrepancies” in the presidential election results which unexpectedly handed power to Félix Tshisekedi. The UN security council is due to meet to discuss the situation with France and Belgium, the former colonial power, also expressing concerns after the result was challenged by an influential group of church leaders.

At least four people, including two police officers, have died in violent clashes since Mr Tshisekedi was announced as the winner of the December 30 election yesterday. DRC has never had a peaceful transfer of power via elections and Mr Tshisekedi’s win looked hollow after suggestions of a deal with the incumbent, Joseph Kabila, 47, to protect him from being investigated for corruption. Martin Fayulu, 62, the candidate regarded as the clear winner by church election observers, said Mr Tshisekedi’s victory had “nothing to do with the truth of the ballot boxes” and has pledged to launch a formal fraud complaint in a dispute many fear could reawaken violence in a nation where millions have died in civil wars since the 1990s.

Pre-election polls predicted a landslide win for opposition candidate Mr Fayulu in a vote hoped to bring Congo's first democratic transfer of power in six decades of coups, dictatorships, assassinations and conflicts since independence. But in a surprise result the businessman, backed by powerful exiled politicians and ex militia leaders, lost out to Mr Tshisekedi, 55. Mr Fayulu's supporters say authorities rigged the result on behalf of Mr Tshisekedi in a deal to protect members of President Joseph Kabila's outgoing administration and maintain his influence over security forces.

Mr Fayulu told the BBC he would file a challenge at Congo's highest court. He said: ”We know that the Constitutional Court is composed by Kabila's people, but we do not want to give any chance to Kabila and his team to say you didn't follow the law. “We want to do all that we can do to have the clean result.”</s>The Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) losing presidential candidate Martin Fayulu has announced he would file a court challenge to the election results, with his camp announcing he had won 62 percent of the vote.

Campaign official Fidele Babala told reporters on Friday that Fayulu won 62 percent of the vote, while President-elect Felix Tshisekedi took 18.9 percent and ruling coalition candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary received 18.5 percent.

Fayulu was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency that when "you know you are in the right, you are not allowed to remain home", as he urged his supporters to "rise up".

Fayulu will go to court on Saturday where he will present evidence which he hopes will prove his victory, Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa, reporting from DRC's capital Kinshasa, said.

The DRC has been tense in the lead up to Thursday's announcement confirming Tshisekedi's win, with riot police deployed at the electoral commission headquarters in Kinshasa on Wednesday.

There have been isolated incidents of post-election violence around the nation of 80 million people. Police confronted opposition protesters in eastern Goma city on Friday, killing at least one person, a witness told Reuters.

Many fear the new dispute could re-start a cycle of unrest in a country where wars causing hunger and disease have decimated the population in recent decades.

Tshisekedi's victory raised the possibility of the first peaceful transfer of power in the DRC since it won independence from Belgium in 1960, but doubt has been cast over the election's outcome by the opposition and Western powers.

The influential Catholic Church has also rejected the official result based on tallies by its 40,000-strong observer team.

"We're not really hearing that much from neighbouring countries in particular," Mutasa continued, saying that many are suspicious of Western intentions, due to the long history of colonialism in the DRC.
Popular candidate Martin Fayulu, who came in second, claims the election was rigged and says he will challenge the result.