DRC: Presidential inauguration January 24 /update 19

Event

The inauguration ceremony for president-elect Félix Tshisekedi, is set to take place on Thursday, January 24, after the constitutional court confirmed its win overnight January 19-20. The event is set to take place at 11 :00 (local time) at the Palais de la Nation, in the capital Kinshasa. A continued heavy security presence and associated transportation disruptions are to be expected throughout the day in Kinshasa. Protests and clashes cannot be ruled out.

Context

DRC held long-awaited general elections on December 30, 2018, to choose a successor to President Joseph Kabila, who was ineligible to run for another term. There were numerous allegations of electoral fraud and voter intimidation and several people were killed in election-related violence. Opposition candidate Tshisekedi was declared winner of the presidential elections with 38.57 percent of the vote, followed by runner-up Martin Fayulu with 34.83 percent, who claims he won the election with 60 percent of the vote based on leaked results, and has called for his supporters to stage peaceful demonstrations against a "constitutional coup d'état." Meanwhile, internet services - blocked since December 31 - have been gradually returning to normal since late January 19.

Advice

Individuals in the DRC are advised to monitor the situation, avoid all public demonstrations due to the risk of violence and arrest, refrain from discussing political topics in public, and adhere to all instructions issued by their home government and local authorities.