Embassies counsel restraint in DR Congo

KINSHASA: Western embassies in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital Kinshasa urged restraint on Saturday, after several leading opposition members called this week’s election a “sham” and called for protests.

The poor but mineral-rich central African nation held four concurrent polls on Wednesday to elect the president, lawmakers for national and provincial assemblies, as well as local councillors.

President Felix Tshisekedi, 60, is running for re-election against 18 opposition candidates, some of whom denounced the election as chaotic and full of irregularities.

Massive delays and bureaucratic chaos marred the vote on Wednesday, with election authorities struggling to transport voting materials to polling stations on time. Some stations were unable to open at all.