The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo had on Monday directed security forces to leave the home of main opposition politician Moise Katumbi, which they had encircled in what the provincial governor called a “faux pas”.
A spokesman for Katumbi, who placed second in disputed presidential elections in December, said earlier on Monday that security forces had surrounded his other house in the southern province of Upper Katanga, where the politician was currently at, and were barring him from leaving.
Provincial Governor, Jacques Kyabula Katwe criticized the incident, saying it was a “faux pas” committed by certain law enforcement authorities to safeguard the property from vandalism.
Congo has been in a state of anxiety since logistical setbacks, an election day invasion, and an obscure vote count have fanned the flames of dispute that is threatening to further disrupted the world’s top producer of cobalt and other prized industrial commodities.
Both the opposition and independent observers have criticized the way the December 20-24 election was held and expressed doubts about the transparency of the ballot in which President Felix Tshisekedi clinched a second term.
Katumbi, who placed second in the polls with 18%, was among several main opposition contenders who eliminated mounting a legal challenge to the results, citing a reported lack of freedom of state institutions.
Katumbi had also joined opposition calls for the election to be cancelled, citing “enormous fraud”, and had in a statement on Sunday urged the international community to not acknowledge the provisional results announced by Congo’s election commission.
Only 2 opposition candidates out of 18 presidential contenders had each filed petitions to dispute the results to the Constitutional Court, which is due to announce its verdict by January 12.
