Violent Clashes Erupt in Kinshasa as Police Clash with Supporters of Presidential Candidate Fayulu

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, clashes have occurred between police and opposition supporters who are demanding the annulment of last week's presidential election. Opposition candidates have denounced the election as fraudulent and have called for a rerun. The protests in the capital, Kinshasa, saw police using tear gas and throwing stones at the demonstrators. The government had banned the protest, stating that it would not tolerate any attempts to undermine the electoral process. Election officials have been unable to provide an exact number of voters or open polling stations so far. Approximately 44 million people were registered to vote. With only six million ballots counted, President Etienne Tshisekedi is currently leading with nearly 80% of the vote as he aims for a second term. He is followed by football tycoon and mining magnate Moïse Katumbi with 14%, and former oil executive Martin Fayulu, who alleges that victory was stolen from him in the 2018 election, is in third place with around 4%. Fayulu's supporters clashed with the police outside his campaign headquarters, resulting in injuries. The election faced logistical delays and administrative chaos, leading to voting being extended to a second day in some areas. The opposition has accused the electoral commission of fraud and ballot stuffing to ensure Tshisekedi's victory, although the commission has denied these allegations. It is worth noting that the DRC lacks basic infrastructure, even in major cities, and the country has a significant portion of its population living below the poverty line. The elections were not held in certain regions of the east due to insecurity caused by numerous armed groups vying for control of the area, which holds a substantial amount of the country's mineral wealth, including cobalt, a vital component of lithium batteries.