Congo’s electoral commission slams Catholic Church over remarks on poll

The church, a powerful voice in the heavily Catholic nation, has called on the electoral commission to publish the true results in “respect of truth and justice”.

The church, which deployed some 40,000 electoral observers in all polling centres, cannot say publicly who the clear winner appears to be, as Congo’s regulations forbid anyone but the electoral commission to announce results.

The commission accused the church of violating the regulations.

Observers have reported multiple irregularities as this vast, mineral-rich Central African country voted for a successor to departing President Joseph Kabila.

This could be Congo’s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960.

The ruling party loyalist whom Mr Kabila put forward as his preferred successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, already has said he expected to win, while polling before the election had top opposition candidate Martin Fayulu ahead.

The electoral commission’s statements on Friday were in a letter to the church and were confirmed by the commission’s president, Corneille Nangaa.

In a separate statement, DR Congo’s ruling party called the church’s attitude “irresponsible and anarchist”.

International pressure is growing on Congo to restore internet service, blocked in an apparent attempt to calm election speculation,…