For the first time, Congolese citizens in Belgium significantly voiced their support for incumbent President, Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, through their presidential vote at the embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Brussels.
Out of the 3,106 registered voters, fewer than half, 1,422 votes, were ultimately cast, according to early results from the Electoral Commission reported by the Congolese Press Agency to Belga agency on Friday evening.
Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi, running for a second term, swept a vast majority of votes (76.37%), ahead of opponents Moise Katumbi Chapwe (14.56%), Denis Mukwege Mukengere (4.57%), and Martin Fayulu Madidi (3.66%).
Figures published by the National Independent Electoral Commission (Céni) on Friday evening were slightly different: they awarded 75.94% of the valid votes or 1,806 voices to Tshisekedi, while maintaining the same ranking order.
For the first time, four other countries also invited Congolese citizens to cast their votes from abroad: Canada, the United States, South Africa and France.
The preliminary results of the election began to trickle out from Céni on Friday evening.
In South Africa, Tshisekedi also emerged victorious, with 1,167 votes, or 81.27% of the ballots, ahead of Katumbi (13%). The turnout was 44.86% of registered voters (1,436 voters).
