Felix Tshisekedi, the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, took the oath of office on Saturday for a second five-year term. His opponents have refused to acknowledge the overwhelming victory he secured in the general election held in December because of several irregularities.
While acknowledging problems, the authorities have rejected claims that votes were stolen. Protests broke out in two eastern cities as a result of the acrimonious deadlock, which is reminiscent of past electoral disagreements that stoked instability in the second-largest country in Africa.
In front of thousands of flag-waving fans, government officials, African heads of state, and international envoys from China, France, and the United States, Tshisekedi took the oath of office in a stadium in the capital city of Kinshasa.
He highlighted the nation’s aspirations for improved living standards and economic prospects in a speech.
Of the 100 million people living in Congo, almost 62% make less than $1 each day.
“I am aware of your expectations,” he replied. “A goal of this new five-year term is to create more jobs.”
In addition, he pledged “a profound restructuring of our security and defence apparatus” as well as additional diplomatic initiatives to resolve the protracted security problem in the eastern regions of Congo.
His inauguration was honoured by marching military bands, a 21-cannon salute, and choirs singing Handel’s Messiah’s Hallelujah chorus.
There was little apparent indication that opposition supporters were responding to a demand by two of Tshisekedi’s principal opponents to protest his re-election across the nation, despite armed military police being stationed across the city.
