African Union cancels delegation to Kinshasa over vote result

The African Union has cancelled a delegation to the DR Congo over the country's disputed presidential election after the Constitutional Court declared Felix Tshisekedi the victor, an AU source said Sunday.

At a summit on Thursday, AU leaders had cited "serious doubts" about the election figures and called for the final results to be delayed.
The European Union concurred with the AU assessment, a spokeswoman had said.

But the 16-nation Southern African Development Community congratulated Tshisekedi, a longtime opposition leader, on Sunday for being declared president-elect and called for a peaceful handover of power.
The AU mission to Kinshasa, to be led by AU chairman Paul Kagame, the Rwandan president, and AU Commission president Moussa Faki of Chad, had been set for Monday.

South Africa urges 'all parties' to accept Tshisekedi DRC win

South Africa on Sunday congratulated Felix Tshisekedi on becoming president-elect of DR Congo following a Constitutional Court ruling, despite the African Union and EU warning of doubts over the country's disputed election result.

"President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated Mr Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo," the presidency said in a statement, calling for "all parties and all stakeholders in the DRC to respect the decision of the Constitutional Court".

"President Ramaphosa also congratulated the people of DRC for conducting peaceful elections and commended them for exercising great restraint and staying calm when waiting for the Constitutional Court to make a determination," it added.
"Now that the highest Court in the land has ruled, all the people of Congo and all stakeholders are urged to accept the outcome of the Court and move on to consolidate democracy and preserve peace, stability and security."

Announcing the final results of the much-delayed poll, the Democratic Republic of Congo's top court threw out a challenge by runner-up Martin Fayulu in an overnight announcement.
It declared Tshisekedi the winner, paving the way for him to take over from the country's longtime leader Joseph Kabila, 47.
The disputed result has raised fears of fresh bloodshed in the vast and volatile central African nation.