Congo's flawed polls pose dangerous dilemmas

Significance

Runner-up Martin Fayulu immediately denounced the results as an “electoral coup” and by mid-morning an influential body representing Congo’s Catholic bishops, the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO), said the results do not tally with its own count from its roughly 40,000 observers.

Impacts

• The responses of regional states will carry much greater weight than the reactions of Western powers.
• Legislative results, yet to be announced, will have a significant impact on the balance of power.
• The 1.2 million voters excluded in Beni, Butembo and Yumbi could become a key issue, as this is more than Tshisekedi’s margin of victory.