Congo: DRC set for historic transfer of power after chaotic election

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DRC set for historic transfer of power after chaotic election
 24/01/2019 - 05:17Latest update : 24/01/2019 - 10:40

Felix Tshisekedi is to be sworn in on Thursday as president of Democratic Republic of Congo, marking the country's first-ever peaceful handover of power after chaotic and bitterly-disputed elections.

At 55, opposition leader Tshisekedi takes over from Joseph Kabila who is stepping aside after 18 years at the helm of sub-Saharan Africa's biggest country.

The inauguration will take place at the Palace of the Nation, the seat of the presidency, at noon (1100 GMT), aides to Tshisekedi and Kabila said on Wednesday.

One of Tshisekedi's first tasks will be to appoint a prime minister in a move which will see him sharing power with Kabila's supporters, who hold an overwhelming majority in parliament.

The ceremony caps more than two years of turmoil sparked by Kabila's refusal to step down when he reached the constitutional limit on his term in office. ...

The ballot, which took place on December 30 after being delayed three times, surprised many by the lack of violence, but a political storm swiftly brewed over the count.

Tshisekedi was declared winner with 38.5 percent of the vote, over his opposition rival Martin Fayulu, who was credited with 34.8 percent.  ...  More

He'll have quite a bit on his plate, not the least of which is:

January 23, 2019 / 1:17 PM / Updated 17 hours ago
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KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday confirmed 14 new cases of Ebola virus in its eastern borderlands, the largest one-day increase since the current outbreak was declared in August.

The outbreak of the haemorrhagic fever in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and Ituri is already the second-largest in history with 713 confirmed and probable cases and 439 deaths.  ...  More

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Congo set to inaugurate new president from opposition
By SALEH MWANAMILONGO
47 minutes ago
Associated Press

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo on Thursday was set to inaugurate an opposition leader as its unexpected new president in the Central African country’s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence nearly 60 years ago.

The 55-year-old Felix Tshisekedi, son of the late opposition icon Etienne, will be sworn into office at the Peoples’ Palace, the seat of the national legislature in the capital, Kinshasa.

Several African heads of state were expected to attend the ceremony, putting aside reservations over alleged election fraud that brought Tshisekedi to power.

Many Congolese hope that Tshisekedi will bring change after 18 years of rule by President Joseph Kabila, who in a final address on Wednesday night urged the country to unite in support of the incoming leader. ... Rest of story