Reactions were mixed after Felix Tshisekedi was announced the winner.
From jubilation to consternation, people certainly made their
feelings known.
The opposition leader wasn't expected to win the Presidential vote in the Democratic Republic
of Congo.
But he edged out his main rival, putting the country on course for its first democratic
transfer of power in almost 60 years since independence.
I know many of you find it hard to accept - but I say it with sincerity, I pay homage
to President Joseph Kabila, President of the Republic...
Today, we must no longer consider each other as adversaries but rather as partners in democratic
change in our country.
Some believe Tshisekedi won by cutting a deal with President Joseph Kabila, who's clung
to power for 18 years.
Although Kabila's preferred candidate only came third, the man expected to win, Martin
Fayulu, is among many contesting the results.
These results do not reflect the truth of the ballots.
This is obviously an unacceptable electoral fraud of a nature that will provoke general
chaos across the country.
Meanwhile, the country's influential Catholic church is already questioning the vote.
It says official results do not match the outcome compiled by its 40,000 observers at
all polling stations across the troubled country.
The church has also called for calm.
Still, many people are upset.
In Goma, many did not hide their feelings amid the potential for unrest.
We don't want this Machiavellian sale of the Congolese people's power.
We are going to call on Article 64 of our Constitution.
In the end, though, experts say it will be up to the country's constitutional
court
to rule on
the vote.