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Tshisekedi re-elected as Congo DR President

Published

4 months ago

January 2, 2024

The Democratic Republic of Congo President, Felix Tshisekedi, was re-elected to a second term on December 20, receiving over 73% of the vote in a poll conducted by the nation’s election commission.

The announcement of the results comes after the opposition complained about the election’s procedures for several days. A dispute that threatens to further destabilise a country roughly the size of Western Europe, the world’s top producer of cobalt and other valuable industrial commodities, has been fuelled by logistical setbacks, an election day overrun, and an opaque vote count.

Denis Kadima, the head of the electoral commission, CENI, announced the results in the capital, Kinshasa. He stated that Tshisekedi had received more than 13 million of the more than 18 million valid votes cast and that more than 43% of voters had participated.

As Kadima declared Tshisekedi to be provisionally elected, the supporters of Tshisekedi, who had gathered, cheered. Tshisekedi, accompanied by his mother and wife, thanked supporters and pledged to expedite initiatives to address inequality during his second term of office in front of hundreds of people who had gathered at his campaign headquarters following the announcement.

“You believed in my commitment not to spare any effort so that our country will retake its rightful place, and so that the Congolese people will recover their pride and dignity in belonging to this country,” he said.

“You believed in my fight against inequalities that have for a long time characterized our society.”.

Rival candidate Moise Katumbi, who received 18% of the vote and finished second in the opposition, has already said that he will not file a lawsuit challenging the results, citing the purported lack of independence of state institutions. It is unclear from other opposition candidates’ statements whether they will contest the outcome.

Nine opposition presidential candidates, including Katumbi, and six political party leaders called on supporters to demonstrate in the streets following the announcement of the preliminary results earlier on Sunday.

“We categorically reject the sham election… and its results,” the main opposition candidates said in a joint declaration. They demanded fresh elections be held with a new electoral body on a date to be agreed by all.

“We call on our people to take to the streets en masse after the proclamation of the electoral fraud,” they said.

All elected members of the 26 provincial assemblies, the President, almost all members of the National Assembly, and, for the first time under the new constitution, a select group of commune (municipal) council members were chosen.

Related Topics:Congo DR Congo DR President Featured

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Uganda discusses power line to South Sudan with China’s Sinohydro

Published

3 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to the president’s office, Uganda is in negotiations with Sinohydro Corporation Limited of China to build a $180 million power transmission line that would enable Uganda to export electricity to South Sudan, which is severely short on energy.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni received a group led by Vice President of Sinohydro Corporation Yang Yi Xin on Monday as part of the negotiations, according to a late-morning statement from Museveni’s office.

The project, according to the statement, will entail building a new substation and expanding two existing ones in addition to building a 138-kilometre high-voltage transmission line to provide power to South Sudan.

“We are very much willing to help develop this project with the required finance if needed,” Xin was quoted as telling the president.

The statement stated that Museveni endorsed Sinohydro’s proposal to carry out the project. Uganda and South Sudan inked a power sales deal in June of last year, enabling Uganda to sell electricity to South Sudan.

To enable Uganda to export electricity to South Sudan, the two nations inked a power sales deal in June of last year. The Chinese firm is completing a $1.5 billion, 600-megawatt hydropower project on the River Nile in Northern Uganda that is meant to be the source for electricity exports to South Sudan.

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Uganda considers nuclear energy to meet increased electricity demand

Published

5 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development announced on Tuesday that it was collaborating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to develop nuclear energy in the country as power demand rises.

Irene Batebe, permanent secretary of the ministry, stated that the government, with the assistance of the IAEA, is investigating and evaluating uranium deposits to ensure a sustainable supply of nuclear fuel for the projected nuclear power plants and research reactors.

“Uranium is the most widely used nuclear fuel material in nuclear power plants and research reactors and is required for Uganda’s nuclear power program.

“The planned nuclear power capacity will require about 4,000 tons of Uranium annually when fully operational. Thus, there is a need for sustainable sources of uranium,” she said at the opening of the nine-day meeting with the experts from the IAEA.

Batebe stated that the government is modifying the Atomic Energy Act of 2008 to tighten the legal framework for the exploration, mining, and processing of nuclear fuel reserves. She stated that even if completely exploited, the country’s electricity generation capacity from hydro, biomass, geothermal, and peat will fall short of Uganda Vision 2040 ambitions.

“To meet our development targets, nuclear energy among other sources must be integrated in the electricity generation mix,” she said.

The Cabinet approved the Energy Policy for Uganda, 2023 in April 2023, which envisions the long-term development of 52,481 MW of generation capacity to meet future demand, with nuclear power accounting for 24,000 MW.