DRC Presidential Election Faces Crisis of Legitimacy Amid Fraud Allegations

Opposition Calls for Vote Annulment as Protests and Violence Escalate

Democratic Republic of the Congo's presidential election is facing a crisis of legitimacy amid opposition calls for the vote to be annulled due to alleged fraud.
Five opposition candidates, including former provincial Governor Moise Katumbi, said the vote should not stand as it had been tainted by 'massive fraud.'
President Felix Tshisekedi, who had a sizeable lead in preliminary results of voting by diaspora voters, is running for re-election against 18 opposition candidates.
The vote has been marred by accusations of corruption and chaotic organization since it kicked off, with authorities extending the poll into Thursday after some polling stations failed to open and some voters could not find their names on registers.
At least 34 people have been killed and 59 others wounded in protests related to the vote, according to the United Nations.