The PPRD lost nearly half the number of seats it held in the 500-seat National Assembly, winning only 63 seats. The PPRD had more candidates than any other party in the elections.

Etienne Tshisekedi’s Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) won 41 seats. Mr. Tshisekedi, who is contesting the results of the parliamentary and presidential elections, has called on members of his party to boycott the parliament. The UDPS had no members in parliament after boycotting the 2006 elections.

The relatively unknown People’s Party for Peace and Democracy (PPPD), which is allied to the PPRD, has emerged from the elections as the third biggest party in the National Assembly after winning 27 seats.

The Lumumbist Party (PALU), led by former Prime Minister Antoine Gizenga and current Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito, also lost seats after winning only 19.

Jean-Pierre Bemba’s Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), which was the main opposition party in parliament, won 22 seats. Vital Kamerhe’s Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC) won 17 seats.

Although Mr. Kabila will have a comfortable majority in the National Assembly thanks to the Presidential Majority (MP), a parliamentary grouping of parties supporting his agenda, the results are a setback for the ruling PPRD, which was aiming to increase its seats in parliament to lessen its dependence on its allies.

The new balance of power will affect how Mr. Kabila forms any new government. As the biggest party allied to the PPRD until now, the PALU has been given the prime minister’s post since the 2006 elections.

Mr. Kabila is said to consider including members of the opposition in a new government. Altogether, opposition candidates were credited with winning more votes than Mr. Kabila in the presidential election. They have rejected the results published by the electoral commission, alleging widespread fraud.

The electoral commission said it asked the Supreme Court to nullify results for 17 seats in 7 districts affected by violence on voting day.

More than 19,000 candidates run for parliament. The Supreme Court has received more than 5,000 appeals since the electoral commission started publishing partial results. The Electoral Law gives the court two months to decide on the appeals.
View the results on the electoral commission’s website

Mbuji-Mayi, in Kasai Oriental Province, was the only major city in the country to experience major disruptions on Monday as most schools and businesses remained closed.

Business went on as usual in other provinces. Mr. Tshisekedi failed to mobilize supporters even in his strongholds in Kinshasa, Bas-Congo and Kasai Occidental provinces.

Mr. Tshisekedi and his party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, have failed to convince supporters to launch mass protests around DR Congo since the electoral commission declared President Joseph Kabila the winner of the Nov. 28 presidential election.

A call made last month for the police and the army to rebel and arrest President Joseph Kabila seems to have fallen on death ears. Mr. Tshisekedi has claimed that he needs more time to convince security forces to join him.

The opposition leader has declared himself the acting president. But for now, he seems unable to rule even in his own neighborhood of Limete, in Kinshasa. Authorities have cornered the area, limiting access to his home. UDPS officials have said that their leader is “under virtual house arrest.”

“Since taking the oath of office, I have been explaining to our brothers and sisters of the army and the police that their allegiance is not to one man but to the Congolese nation. If they supported Mr. Kabila, it is because Mr. Kabila was representing the Congo after being elected by the people in 2006. But, as we all know, that mandate ended on Dec. 6. And everyone also knows that I, Mr. Etienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba, was the one elected during the Nov. 28 presidential election. No Congolese doubts it. Thus, the army and the police, following the Constitution, must pay allegiance to the new president. It took time because you have to understand that they have obeyed to Mr. Kabila for 10 years. I had to explain to them that he is the cause of their current situation. I am glad to announce to you today that I have met an army and police acquired to change everywhere. Thus, I am glad to announce today that I am officially assuming my functions as the president of the republic. Next week, I will form my government, which will start governing the Congo in the interest and for the progress of the country.”

Asked to respond to Mr. Tshisekedi’s statement, Aubin Minaku, the secretary general of the Presidential Majority, a parliamentary grouping of parties supporting President Joseph Kabila, told Radio Okapi that “Frankly, I wanted to respond with silence but by respect for Radio Okapi I will react because it is a non-event.”

“We are a country with a constitution. There is an elected President.” Arguing that Mr. Tshisekedi declared himself president even before the campaign, Mr. Minaku said that he found it pointless to continue to respond to his comments.

Mr. Tshisekedi has rejected the results published by the electoral commission and upheld by the Supreme Court declaring Mr. Kabila the winner of the Nov. 28 presidential election.

Excerpts from Radio Okapi article

In a declaration released on Thursday after a three-day meeting in Kinshasa, the bishops said that they “believe the electoral process was marred by serious flaws that call into question the credibility of the results published” by the electoral commission.

They asked the current members of the INEC to “have the courage to reevaluate themselves and immediately correct the serious errors that have affected public confidence in the institution. Or otherwise, resign.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission “no longer enjoys the confidence of the population,” the bishops said and asked the parliament to “review its composition” and “include members of the civil society for more independence.”

They warned the authorities that “if they continue to rule by defiance, tensions that may seem under control at the moment could rise into a serious crisis that sooner or later will be difficult to resolve.”

They called on the “Congolese people, not to fall into pessimism, despair, violence, tribalism, or xenophobia, but to unite behind democratic and Christian values “of justice and truth.”

“Our country is going through a time of uncertainty and anxiety. Our faith in God and our trust in man, created in the image of God, convince us that this uncertainty and anxiety can be overcome through a change of heart, attitude and practices. We must love our country, be willing to give up selfish interests and seek through dialogue the ways to build peace in DR Congo.”

« Moi Etienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba, élu Président de la République Démocratique du Congo, je jure solennellement devant Dieu et la Nation : d’observer et défendre la Constitution et les lois de la République; de maintenir son indépendance et l’intégrité de son territoire; de sauvegarder l’unité nationale; de ne me guider que par l’intérêt général et le respect des droits de la personne humaine; de consacrer toutes mes forces à la promotion du bien commun et de la paix ; de remplir loyalement et en fidèle serviteur du peuple, les hautes fonctions qui me sont confiées », a dit M. Tshisekedi.

Lors de la cérémonie, M. Albert Moleka, introduisant M. Tshisekedi, a déclaré que le leader de l’UDPS avait remporté le scrutin présidentiel du 28 novembre avec 52,6%.

Les forces de l’ordre ont bouclé le quartier Limete pour empêcher M. Tshisekedi et ses partisans de se rendre au stade des Martyrs. Un imposant dispositif sécuritaire était déployé aux alentours du stade des Martyrs.

“I, Etienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba, having been democratically elected president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, solemnly swear before God and the nation to uphold and respect the Constitution and laws of the Republic and to defend its national unity and territorial integrity, to devote all my strength to the promotion of the common good and peace and to loyally fulfill, and as a servant of the people, the high functions entrusted in me,” Mr. Tshisekedi said with his left hand on a Bible in front of dozens of supporters at his home in Limete, Kinshasa.

Mr. Tshisekedi said on Sunday that he considered himself the president elected by the Congolese people in the Nov. 28 presidential election and planned to take the oath of office at Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa on Friday.

Mr. Tshisekedi was introduced at the ceremony by his spokesman, Albert Moleka, who said that Mr. Tshisekedi had won the presidential election with 53 percent of the votes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission announced on Dec. 9 that President Joseph Kabila had won reelection with 49 percent while Mr. Tshisekedi received 32 percent of the votes. The results were upheld by the Supreme Court on Dec. 16 and Mr. Kabila was sworn in on Friday, Dec. 20.

Police had cornered off the roads leading to Mr. Tshisekedi’s house in Limete. Stade des Martyrs and its surroundings were guarded by heavily armed security forces.  Police dispersed dozens of UDPS militants trying to get to the stadium. Some protesters were arrested, but there were no reports of injuries.

Kinshasa remained calm overall as most of its 10 million residents went about their business two days before Christmas and were not affected by the turmoil in Limete and around Stade des Martyrs.

“On Nov. 28, you were asked to choose between on one hand promises and inflammatory speeches and on the other hand the prospect of consolidating peace and stability, furthering the reconstruction of the country, and the credibility of the proposed modernization. By renewing your confidence in me, you have opted for the continuity of the great work I’ve initiated and carried with you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Mr. Kabila said in his speech.

On Dec. 9, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Mr. Kabila the winner of the Nov. 28 presidential election. The Supreme Court upheld the results of the election on Dec. 16.

Mr. Kabila thanked “the Congolese people for the political maturity, order and discipline it has shown since the beginning of the electoral process so far.”

The Congolese people want “urgent action with quick positive results” on unemployment, household income, security, justice and other basic needs, Mr. Kabila said, “I have head the message loud and clear”. In response, he said he was proposing a “revolution of modernity” that will focus on improving DR Congo’s infrastructure and the social conditions of Congolese citizens.

“As the president of all Congolese, I will remain open. I am convinced that together, determined and motivated, we can meet the challenge of the development of our country. I will work with all compatriots who have the passion of the Congo and who sincerely want to work for its modernization. When serving the country, there are no political camps. Only competence, patriotism and goodwill matter.”

“I consider myself from this day on the president elected by the Congolese people” Mr. Tshisekedi said.

Mr. Tshisekedi asked his followers to “stay calm and serene to maintain a good business climate for foreign investments”.

“I ask you to be calm and serene because a winner does not worry, to the contrary, he remains calm.  As for those who are causing our troubles, beginning with Mr. Kabila, I ask all of you to look for him, wherever he is in the country, and bring him to me. Whoever brings me Kabila here, handcuffed, will receive a very big prize. Also, Mr. Kabila’s government is dismissed from this day on. All officers, lieutenants, caporals and soldiers of the Congolese armed forces, I order you to obey to the legitimate authority. The same goes for the national and sovereign police force”, Mr. Tshisekedi said.

DR Congo has remained calm since the Independent National Electoral Commission proclaimed Mr. Kabila the winner of the Nov. 28 presidential election on Dec. 9. After the announcement, Mr. Tshisekedi asked his supporters to remain calm and await his instructions. Police presence had been reduced around Kinshasa.

The statement comes two days after the Supreme Court confirmed Mr. Kabila as the winner of the Nov. 28 presidential election on Friday. President Kabila is set to be sworn in on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

Mr. Tshisekedi declared himself president even before the elections and has repeated the claim since the INEC published the results.

The call for soldiers and the police to rebel and arrest President Kabila may aggravate tensions between the authorities, Mr. Tshisekedi, and his supporters. His party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress  has called for protests on Monday and Tuesday.

Mr. Tshisekedi, who turned 79 on Dec. 14, said on Sunday he “will take the oath of office next Friday” at Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa.

Does Mr. Tshisekedi expect all Congolese to just trust his word? He must have proof that he is the one who was elected. Not Joseph Kabila, Vital Kamerhe, or Kengo wa Dongo. There must be pictures out there, videos, signed summaries of the tallies at polling stations,…  These claims of victory, coming from such a respected politician, cannot be baseless.

Of course, Mr. Tshisekedi declared himself president even before the Nov. 28 presidential elections. His proof then was that “the Congolese people have already chosen me.” Well, maybe in a parallel universe they did. But in this world, we humbly ask for proof of Mr. Tshisekedi’s victory.

The Carter Center, the European Union, the United States, have said that the elections “lacked credibility”, “were not transparent”, “were seriously flawed.” Great! Maybe someone out there has the proof that Mr. Tshisekedi won. Or do they? It’s one thing to say that the 2011 elections were marred with irregularities; it’s a completely different thing to say that Mr. Tshisekedi won. Even these international observers missions have not gone that far.

Maybe that Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo has the proof. The Catholic Church had said before the elections that it will send 30,000 observers all over DR Congo. Yet, it has refused to publish its own results, even as nearly more than 6,000 of its observers were said to be equipped with electronic devices to collect and transmit the results from the polling stations! That’s a lot of data that could be used to show that Mr. Tshisekedi won.

And by the way, Mr. Kabila, you are the man. How dare you rig these elections, even as you were warned that so many observers will be present! So bold! So deviously genius!

But, who rigs elections to only get 49 percent? Then publishes the proof of the crime for anyone to see and criticize! This must be a new low for you, Mr. Kabila! Didn’t President Paul Kagame of Rwanda win reelection with 93 percent, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda with 68 percent? You should fire (bad choice of word), rather dismiss the entire INEC, which we all know you control. What a bunch of incompetents! They should have won you at least more than Mr. Museveni, surely not as much as Mr. Kagame. Can you blame them for winning with such “statistically impossible numbers”? They seem to get more respect from the judges of “transparency” and “effectiveness”. You really screwed up man. Look at the mess you have now created by letting your opponents get more votes than you in a rigged election! What if they had united in a single candidacy? They could have won the election despite all the ballot stuffing. What a shame.

On a more serious note, what now? What should we do now that two people claim to be presidents?  Oh! I got it. We should start all over again and hold new elections. The international community should come up with thehundreds of millions of dollars to fund the new, more credible, and more transparent elections. The United Nations mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) should organize them this time, as some are now claiming that its predecessor (MONUC), and not the INEC’s predecessor (IEC), organized the 2006 “free and fair” elections. Mr. Tshisekedi has said that those elections were rigged too. He has also said that he will thank MONUSCO for its services once he becomes president. UDPS supporters have protested around the world denouncing the international community’s perceived support of Mr. Kabila. Who will organize these new elections then? Quite a conundrum.

Mr. Tshisekedi and his party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, have so far rejected any suggestions of holding new elections. Simply put, they won, they can’t prove it (yet), but they say they did. And everyone should accept it, from Mr. Kabila’s Eastern Congo strongholds to Western Congo.

Just how did Mr. Tshisekedi win? Which provinces did he carry? Are Kinshasa, Bas-Congo and the Kasai provinces alone now the Democratic Republic of Congo? Did Mr. Tshisekedi win Orientale Province, North Kivu, South Kivu and Katanga provinces too? Did Mr. Kabila fail to get any votes in Kinshasa and other opposition strongholds? How exactly did Mr. Tshisekedi manage to win the election even as Vital Kamerhe received 8 percent and Kengo wa Dondo won in Equateur Province? Is the UDPS contesting their results too?

The UDPS should publish its own results showing that Mr. Tshisekedi won the election before they start sending supporters into some sort of Arab Spring, or should we say Congolese Christmas. God knows the Republican Guard will be waiting.

Being president of the Democratic Republic of Congo is no one’s birthright. Not Mr. Kabila’s and not Mr. Tshisekedi’s.

The court rejected an appeal filed by Vital Kamerhe. It ruled that the opposition candidate fail to provide evidence to support his claim that the election should be annulled because of irregularities during and after the vote.

The Supreme Court ruled that Joseph Kabila won 48,95% of the votes, Etienne Tshisekedi 32,33%, Vital Kamerhe 7,74%, Leon Kengo wa Dondo 4,95%, Mbusa Nyamwisi 1,72%, Nzanga Mobutu 1,75%, with the remaining 5 candidates garnering less than 1% each.

“Thus, the Supreme Court proclaims Mr. Joseph Kabila Kabange president-elect of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a simple majority”, the First President of the Supreme Court, Jerome Kitoko, said.

The ruling clears the way for President Joseph Kabila to be sworn-in for a second and last five-year term next Tuesday, Dec. 20. It also closes one chapter in the highly contested 2011 presidential election.

As expected, opposition parties rejected the results announced by the Supreme Court, just as they did when the INEC announced the results last week.

Although the gloom and doom predictions of violence have so far failed to materialize since the results were published last Friday, the next chapter will depend on how many supporters the opposition can convince to protest against Mr. Kabila’s now official re-election.

Only a few hundred opposition supporters have shown up at protests in North Kivu, South Kivu and Katanga provinces since the results were announced last week. Nearly 18,911,572 Congolese cast their ballots on Election Day.