KINSHASHA – The Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional body has called for a national unity government and a vote recount in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following the disputed presidential election.
In a statement released on 13 Sunday, SADC proposed that all political leaders should agree a negotiated settlement.
“A recount would provide the necessary reassurance to both winners and losers,” reads the statement in part.
The body recommended a government of national unity including parties representing Kabila, Fayulu and Tshisekedi that could promote peace.
“SADC draws the attention of Congolese politicians to similar arrangements that were very successful in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya” that created the “necessary stability for durable peace.”
This is all after the declaration of opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi as the winner in the recent presidential election that took place on 30 December.
After the Electoral commission announcing the results, another opponent of the current administration, Martin Fayulu, insisted that he won and alleges that Mr Tshisekedi made a deal with the outgoing President Joseph Kabila.
Mr Fayulu said he will do whatever is possible for him to get the truth because the Congolese want to change. He added that the result did not reflect “the truth of the ballot boxes”.
On 12 Saturday, Mr Fayulu filed an appeal in the Constitutional Court demanding a manual recount of votes cast in the 30 December election.
This call however, was supported by SADC as it issued a statement also demanding for a vote recount or else the two candidates make unity government to lead Congo.
Mr Fayulu tweeted to thank SADC for backing his call for a vote recount but he did not comment on the proposed plan for a government of national unity.
South Africa’s Foreign Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, also said a unity government could prove to be an acceptable compromise for a troubled country in desperate need of peace.