Democratic Republic of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/volatile-dr-congo-votes-after-two-year-delay-187402">Congo's electoral commission on Thursday</a> declared opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi the surprise winner of last month's chaotic presidential election, but the runner-up dismissed the outcome as an "electoral coup".

The result sets the stage for Congo's <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/dr-congo-state-says-it-cut-internet-to-avoid-uprising-after-vote-187801">first democratic transfer of power</a>, but also a tense political standoff with the potential for the kind of violence that followed polls in 2006 and 2011 whose outcome was contested.

Vote tallies by Congo's Catholic church (CENCO) showed second-placed opposition candidate Martin Fayulu as victor, according to two diplomats briefed on the findings.

Tshisekedi won with 38.57 per cent of more than 18 million ballots cast, Corneille Nangaa, the president of the election commission (CENI), told a news conference at 3 a.m. (0200 GMT) that seemed timed to avoid any immediate reaction in the streets.

"Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo is declared the provisionally- elected president of Democratic Republic of Congo," Nangaa said, to a mixture of cheers and gasps inside CENI headquarters.

In the Kinshasa neighbourhood of Limete where Tshisekedi lives, thousands of people danced in the streets in celebration and cars slowed down and honked their horns.

Some chanted that Congo had "turned the page" on the Kabila era, which began in 1997 when Joseph Kabila's father, Laurent, led a rebellion that overthrew longtime leader Mobutu Sese Seko. Joseph took over in 2001 when Laurent was assassinated.

"For a ruler to pass power to an opponent is rare, and it gives hope for the rest of Africa," said John, a school teacher in Kinshasa who declined to give his full name.

"We now want change with this new power. Poverty, insecurity, killings, we must finish with all this."

Speaking to cheering supporters at his campaign headquarters, Tshisekedi paid his respects to outgoing President Joseph Kabila, whom he called "an important political partner", and promised to rule for all Congo's 80 million people.

"I will not be the president of a political organisation ... I will not be the president of a tribe ... I will be the president of all Congolese," he said.

If Tshisekedi's victory is confirmed in the next 10 days by the constitutional court, he will become the first leader to take power at the ballot box since Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, who was toppled in a coup less than three months after independence in 1960 and killed four months later.

Opposition fears that authorities would rig the vote in favour of Kabila's hand-picked candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, did not materialise as Shadary finished a distant third to Tshisekedi and Fayulu, with about 4.4 million votes.

However, the result will fuel suspicion among Fayulu's supporters that Tshisekedi, shown by pre-election opinion polls to be running well behind Fayulu, struck a power-sharing pact with Kabila.

Tshisekedi's camp has acknowledged contact with Kabila's representatives since the vote but said they were aimed at ensuring a peaceful transition and denied there had been any deal.

In an interview with Radio France Internationale, Fayulu, who was backed by prominent foes of Kabila, described the vote as an "electoral coup".

"The results have nothing to do with the truth of the ballot box," he told RFI, and called on observers of the December&nbsp;30 vote to publish the real results.

Tshisekedi is the son of the legendary Etienne Tshisekedi, who led opposition to three successive presidents over 35 years. Felix's profile rose when his father died in 2017 after helping to negotiate Kabila's reluctant departure.

Kabila initially refused to step down when his mandate ended in 2016. In an interview last month, he did not rule out running again for president in 2023.

Losing candidates can contest Tshisekedi's victory before Congo's constitutional court, which has 10 days to hear and rule on any challenges.

Any widespread perception the election has been stolen could set off a destabilising cycle of unrest, particularly in the volatile eastern borderlands where Fayulu enjoyed some of his strongest support.

The Catholic Church's bishops conference said last week that it knew the identity of the winner and demanded that CENI publish accurate results. The Church did not say who it thought the winner was, but briefed diplomats on its conclusions. CENCO was not immediately available for comment after the results.

The vote was initially delayed by a week in part because of a fire that destroyed ballot papers. Authorities cancelled voting on election day for more than one million people, saying the vote could not go ahead because of an Ebola outbreak and militia violence.

Observers said many polling stations opened late and closed early and in some places voting machines malfunctioned.

Democratic Republic of Congo's electoral commission on Thursday declared opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi the surprise winner of last month's chaotic presidential election, but the runner-up dismissed the outcome as an "electoral coup".

Democratic Republic of Congo's electoral commission on Thursday declared opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi the surprise winner of last month's chaotic presidential election, but the runner-up dismissed the outcome as an "electoral coup". The result sets the stage for Congo's first democratic transfer of power, but also a tense political standoff with the potential for the kind of violence that followed polls in 2006 and 2011 whose outcome was contested. Vote tallies by Congo's Catholic church (CENCO) showed second-placed opposition candidate Martin Fayulu as victor, according to two diplomats briefed on the findings. Tshisekedi won with 38.57 per cent of more than 18 million ballots cast, Corneille Nangaa, the president of the election commission (CENI), told a news conference at 3 a.m. (0200 GMT) that seemed timed to avoid any immediate reaction in the streets. "Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo is declared the provisionally- elected president of Democratic Republic of Congo," Nangaa said, to a mixture of cheers and gasps inside CENI headquarters. In the Kinshasa neighbourhood of Limete where Tshisekedi lives, thousands of people danced in the streets in celebration and cars slowed down and honked their horns. Some chanted that Congo had "turned the page" on the Kabila era, which began in 1997 when Joseph Kabila's father, Laurent, led a rebellion that overthrew longtime leader Mobutu Sese Seko. Joseph took over in 2001 when Laurent was assassinated. "For a ruler to pass power to an opponent is rare, and it gives hope for the rest of Africa," said John, a school teacher in Kinshasa who declined to give his full name. "We now want change with this new power. Poverty, insecurity, killings, we must finish with all this." Speaking to cheering supporters at his campaign headquarters, Tshisekedi paid his respects to outgoing President Joseph Kabila, whom he called "an important political partner", and promised to rule for all Congo's 80 million people. "I will not be the president of a political organisation ... I will not be the president of a tribe ... I will be the president of all Congolese," he said. If Tshisekedi's victory is confirmed in the next 10 days by the constitutional court, he will become the first leader to take power at the ballot box since Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, who was toppled in a coup less than three months after independence in 1960 and killed four months later. Opposition fears that authorities would rig the vote in favour of Kabila's hand-picked candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, did not materialise as Shadary finished a distant third to Tshisekedi and Fayulu, with about 4.4 million votes. However, the result will fuel suspicion among Fayulu's supporters that Tshisekedi, shown by pre-election opinion polls to be running well behind Fayulu, struck a power-sharing pact with Kabila. Tshisekedi's camp has acknowledged contact with Kabila's representatives since the vote but said they were aimed at ensuring a peaceful transition and denied there had been any deal. In an interview with Radio France Internationale, Fayulu, who was backed by prominent foes of Kabila, described the vote as an "electoral coup". "The results have nothing to do with the truth of the ballot box," he told RFI, and called on observers of the December 30 vote to publish the real results. Tshisekedi is the son of the legendary Etienne Tshisekedi, who led opposition to three successive presidents over 35 years. Felix's profile rose when his father died in 2017 after helping to negotiate Kabila's reluctant departure. Kabila initially refused to step down when his mandate ended in 2016. In an interview last month, he did not rule out running again for president in 2023. Losing candidates can contest Tshisekedi's victory before Congo's constitutional court, which has 10 days to hear and rule on any challenges. Any widespread perception the election has been stolen could set off a destabilising cycle of unrest, particularly in the volatile eastern borderlands where Fayulu enjoyed some of his strongest support. The Catholic Church's bishops conference said last week that it knew the identity of the winner and demanded that CENI publish accurate results. The Church did not say who it thought the winner was, but briefed diplomats on its conclusions. CENCO was not immediately available for comment after the results. The vote was initially delayed by a week in part because of a fire that destroyed ballot papers. Authorities cancelled voting on election day for more than one million people, saying the vote could not go ahead because of an Ebola outbreak and militia violence. Observers said many polling stations opened late and closed early and in some places voting machines malfunctioned.

Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi declared winner in DR Congo presidential election

Africa's second largest country, the Democratic Republic of Congo is rich in raw materials and minerals but cursed by deadly violence, insurgencies, graft and poverty.

After repeated delays, presidential elections are due to be held on Sunday, although electoral authorities have postponed the vote until March in two regions troubled by violence.

Here are key facts about the DRC:

Vast country

Eighty times the size of its former colonial master Belgium, the DRC covers 2.3 million square kilometres (919,595 square miles) in the middle of Africa, behind only Algeria in area on the continent.

The majority of its population of 81.3 million people (World Bank, 2017) is Catholic.

As well as having access to the Atlantic Ocean it shares its borders with nine other countries: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo (also called Congo-Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.&nbsp;

While the official language is French, it has four indigenous national and 200 vernacular languages, hampering the forging of a national identity since independence in 1960.

Regional war

The DRC is a nation plagued by conflict and disunity.&nbsp;

Its first prime minister, independence hero Patrice Lumumba, was assassinated in 1961.

Army strongman Mobutu Sese Seko grabbed power in a coup in 1965, imposed the name Zaire and set up a dictatorial kleptocracy that lasted 32 years.

Rebel Laurent-Desire Kabila launched an armed campaign to overthrow Mobutu that drew in neighbouring countries. He seized power in 1997, renaming the country after the mighty Congo river.

Kabila expelled the forces of his Rwandan and Ugandan allies, sparking a war in the Kivu border region in which several African countries became embroiled.

The 1998-2003 conflict caused millions of deaths from violence, disease and starvation, called by some Africa's "Great War".

Many militia groups remain active in Kivu -- divided into North and South provinces -- which continues to suffer massacres, widespread rape and other atrocities.

Central Kasai province is another violence hotspot, with around 3,000 people killed in less than a year of unrest that erupted after soldiers killed a tribal chief in 2016.

New political crisis

Kabila's son Joseph inherited the presidency after his father was killed by a bodyguard in 2001.&nbsp;

He went on to win elections in 2006, the first free polls since independence, and a second term in 2011.

Kabila was meant to step down in 2016 but refused, prompting demonstrations met with bloody crackdowns.

After various delays, presidential elections are set for December 30. Polling will also take place for legislative and municipal bodies.

Disease and rape 
 
Aid agencies have accused all sides in DRC conflicts of using rape as a weapon of war to terrorise local populations.

South Kivu-based gynaecologist Denis Mukwege won the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for his work with women who have been victims of sexual abuse.

The country also suffers from Ebola, the hemorrhagic fever named after a river in the north of the country, and cholera.

Its 10th outbreak of Ebola since 1976 was declared on August 1 and has claimed at least 285 lives, according to a health ministry update in early December.

A cholera epidemic has claimed 857 lives since the start of the year, the World Health Organization (WHO) said last month.

Last year, the country had 55,000 cases of cholera, resulting in 1,190 fatalities.

Cobalt, copper, coltan

The DRC has the potential to be one of Africa's wealthiest countries "if it can overcome its political instability," the World Bank says.

It is the world's leading producer of cobalt, a key ingredient in top-range batteries including for smartphones and electric cars, and a top supplier of coltan, another mineral used for electronic products.

It is also Africa's top producer of copper and sits on hydrocarbons, tropical timber, gold, diamonds and other minerals.

But competition for the wealth has bred conflict, graft, smuggling and mismanagement.&nbsp;

It is ranked 176 out of 188 for its human development (UN Human Development Programme) and 161 out of 180 for corruption (Transparency International).

In 2017 its economy grew 3.7 percent, according to the World Bank.

After repeated delays, presidential elections are due to be held on Sunday, although electoral authorities have postponed the vote until March in two regions troubled by violence.

Africa's second largest country, the Democratic Republic of Congo is rich in raw materials and minerals but cursed by deadly violence, insurgencies, graft and poverty. After repeated delays, presidential elections are due to be held on Sunday, although electoral authorities have postponed the vote until March in two regions troubled by violence. Here are key facts about the DRC: Vast country Eighty times the size of its former colonial master Belgium, the DRC covers 2.3 million square kilometres (919,595 square miles) in the middle of Africa, behind only Algeria in area on the continent. The majority of its population of 81.3 million people (World Bank, 2017) is Catholic. As well as having access to the Atlantic Ocean it shares its borders with nine other countries: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo (also called Congo-Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. While the official language is French, it has four indigenous national and 200 vernacular languages, hampering the forging of a national identity since independence in 1960. Regional war The DRC is a nation plagued by conflict and disunity. Its first prime minister, independence hero Patrice Lumumba, was assassinated in 1961. Army strongman Mobutu Sese Seko grabbed power in a coup in 1965, imposed the name Zaire and set up a dictatorial kleptocracy that lasted 32 years. Rebel Laurent-Desire Kabila launched an armed campaign to overthrow Mobutu that drew in neighbouring countries. He seized power in 1997, renaming the country after the mighty Congo river. Kabila expelled the forces of his Rwandan and Ugandan allies, sparking a war in the Kivu border region in which several African countries became embroiled. The 1998-2003 conflict caused millions of deaths from violence, disease and starvation, called by some Africa's "Great War". Many militia groups remain active in Kivu -- divided into North and South provinces -- which continues to suffer massacres, widespread rape and other atrocities. Central Kasai province is another violence hotspot, with around 3,000 people killed in less than a year of unrest that erupted after soldiers killed a tribal chief in 2016. New political crisis Kabila's son Joseph inherited the presidency after his father was killed by a bodyguard in 2001. He went on to win elections in 2006, the first free polls since independence, and a second term in 2011. Kabila was meant to step down in 2016 but refused, prompting demonstrations met with bloody crackdowns. After various delays, presidential elections are set for December 30. Polling will also take place for legislative and municipal bodies. Disease and rape Aid agencies have accused all sides in DRC conflicts of using rape as a weapon of war to terrorise local populations. South Kivu-based gynaecologist Denis Mukwege won the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for his work with women who have been victims of sexual abuse. The country also suffers from Ebola, the hemorrhagic fever named after a river in the north of the country, and cholera. Its 10th outbreak of Ebola since 1976 was declared on August 1 and has claimed at least 285 lives, according to a health ministry update in early December. A cholera epidemic has claimed 857 lives since the start of the year, the World Health Organization (WHO) said last month. Last year, the country had 55,000 cases of cholera, resulting in 1,190 fatalities. Cobalt, copper, coltan The DRC has the potential to be one of Africa's wealthiest countries "if it can overcome its political instability," the World Bank says. It is the world's leading producer of cobalt, a key ingredient in top-range batteries including for smartphones and electric cars, and a top supplier of coltan, another mineral used for electronic products. It is also Africa's top producer of copper and sits on hydrocarbons, tropical timber, gold, diamonds and other minerals. But competition for the wealth has bred conflict, graft, smuggling and mismanagement. It is ranked 176 out of 188 for its human development (UN Human Development Programme) and 161 out of 180 for corruption (Transparency International). In 2017 its economy grew 3.7 percent, according to the World Bank.

DR Congo: Giant weakened by violence and poverty

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Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi declared winner in DR Congo presidential election

DR Congo: Giant weakened by violence and poverty