By Frank Kamuntu
Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has congratulated his DRC counterpart Felix Tshisekedi on his re-election for a second term.
Tshisekedi emerged victorious in the December 20 elections with a landslide win of 73 per cent of the vote against his closest rival, Moise Katumbi who managed a paltry 18 per cent of the votes cast.
“Fellow Ugandans and, the fraternal people of the Democratic Republic of Congo; I take this opportunity, on behalf of the Ugandans, to congratulate H.E Felix Tshisekedi on winning the electoral contest in Congo, as announced by the Electoral Commission,” Museveni said in a statement on his X handle, formerly Twitter.
He lauded the president-elect for his efforts in combating insurgents in the East African Community territory through military aid.
“H.E Tshisekedi has positively contributed to the efforts of the region by bringing Congo into the East African Community and by allowing us to work with the Congo Army in dismantling the ADF in Eastern Congo. We look forward to more brotherly cooperation with the People and the government of Congo,” Museveni said.
He became the fourth EAC head of State to send a congratulatory message to Tshisekedi, following in the footsteps of Burundi’s Evariste Ndayishimiye, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Kenya’s William Ruto.
Rwanda’s Paul Kagame was yet to break his silence following Tshisekedi’s rousing victory at the polls.
The Federal Republic of Somalia and South Sudan are the other EAC member states that have yet to send their congratulatory messages.
This despite Salva Kiir, the president of South Sudan, being the current chair of the EAC.
Other notable leaders that have congratulated Tshisekedi include former President Uhuru Kenyatta in his official capacity as the Facilitator of the EAC-Led Nairobi Peace Process.
Uhuru called on the president-elect to inclusively work with those who voted for him and those who did not.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga also sent his congratulatory message wishing Tshisekedi the “very best as he continues to steering the DRC back on course.”.
Tshisekedi will be sworn in on January 20 if none of the 18 opposition candidates who rejected his victory challenges his win at the Constitutional Court within 10 days since results were announced.
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