Martin Fayulu - The African Mirror

Jan

2024

Congo opposition leaders call for protest on inauguration day

TWO of the main opposition candidates in the Democratic Republic of Congo's December presidential election have called for a protest this Saturday when President Felix Tshisekedi is due to be sworn in for a second term. Tshisekedi and his party won the December 20-24 general election by a landslide, but the vote was marred by widespread allegations of fraud, logistical shortcomings and disruptions. The fallout threatens to further destabilise Congo, the world's third-largest copper producer and the top producer of cobalt, a key component in electric car batteries. The two opposition leaders, Martin Fayulu and Moise Katumbi, as well as others, have…

Dec

2023

By BENOIT NYEMBA and ANGE ADIHE KASONGO

Several wounded as DR Congo police break up banned election protest

NEWS

SEVERAL people were wounded in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital as riot police forcibly dispersed a banned protest by the opposition, who are calling for a re-run of last week's chaotic national elections. The disputed vote threatens to destabilise further poverty-stricken Congo, which is already grappling with a security crisis in the east that has hampered development in the world's top producer of cobalt and other industrial minerals and metals. Police surrounded the headquarters of Martin Fayulu, one of five of President Felix Tshisekedi's challengers who had called on their supporters to march in Kinshasa on Wednesday against the…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

Six Congo presidential candidates ask top court to ensure fair vote

NEWS

SIX opposition candidates in the Democratic Republic of Congo's December 20 presidential election asked the country's Constitutional Court to compel the electoral commission to publish the final voter roll, warning of potential irregularities and fraud. The candidates including a leading opposition candidate Martin Fayulu and Nobel Peace Prize-winning gynaecologist Denis Mukwege who is running for the first time, alleged intentional irregularities by the commission that questioned the reliability of the electoral roll. A spokesperson for Congo's national electoral commission known as CENI, declined to comment. The head of the electoral commission had previously rejected the accusations. He told Reuters in an interview in October…

Nov

2023

By ANGE ADIHE KASONGO

The main contenders in Congo’s December election

NEWS

DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi faces off against more than two dozen rivals in a December 20 election. His rivals include old foes such as Martin Fayulu, who came second in the disputed 2018 poll, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege. Below are the main candidates in the race. President Felix Tshisekedi Tshisekedi, 60, son of Congo's late opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, came to power in a disputed 2018 election buoyed by a power-sharing alliance with former president Joseph Kabila. The alliance unravelled soon after, so he joined forces with other Congolese political heavyweights including Economy Minister Vital…

Nov

2023

By SONIA ROLLEY

Congo opposition parties discuss joint election candidate, fair vote

NEWS

REPRESENTATIVES of Congo's main opposition parties began talks this week in Pretoria on how to ensure the general election on December 20 will be fair and to decide on a potential joint candidate to challenge President Felix Tshisekedi. A crowded opposition field of 25 candidates has been officially approved by the electoral commission in the Democratic Republic of Congo to face Tshisekedi who is seeking a second term. Campaigning for the election in Congo, the world's largest producer of battery material cobalt and a major copper producer will start on November 20. Opposition candidates include Tshisekedi's old rivals such as Martin…

Oct

2023

By The African Mirror

Congolese opposition leader Fayulu confirms he will run for the presidency

NEWS

DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo opposition leader Martin Fayulu confirmed he will submit his candidacy for the December presidential election, where he is expected to be one of the main challengers to President Felix Tshisekedi. The 66-year-old former Exxon Mobil executive came second to Tshisekedi in the contentious 2018 election. His party, the Engagement for Citizenship and Development party, the African Union and Congo's influential Catholic Church questioned the outcome and Fayulu challenged the results in court. Since then he has remained a vocal critic of Tshisekedi's presidency, threatening to boycott the Dec. 20 ballot in protest at alleged fraud linked…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

Police beat journalist, fire tear gas during Congo election protest

MEDIA FREEDOM

POLICE beat a journalist and fired tear gas to disperse a small crowd in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa during an opposition protest over alleged election meddling, eyewitnesses said. Around 20 protesters gathered in response to a call by opposition leader Martin Fayulu and were met with stiff resistance from police. Police beat and temporarily detained Patient Ligodi, a journalist working for Radio France International, while he was interviewing Fayulu. "They threw me to the ground and started to hit me," Ligodi said in a video shared on social media. Video shot by broadcaster France 24 showed Ligodi being…