KINSHASA, DR CONGO (December 9, 2011) – As expected, Joseph Kabila has been proclaimed the winner of the presidential election, and now the country is waiting to see whether violence will erupt as it did following the previous election in 2006.

Kabila won 49 per cent of the 18.14 million ballots that were cast, while longtime opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi garnered 32 percent, according to the national election commission.

International observers and Kabila opponents have alleged widespread fraud, and Tshisekedi has said he will not accept the outcome.

According to various news reports, there have been some protests in Kinshasa where 10 Congo Covenant Church congregations are located, but there has been no outbreak of violence.

Evangelical Covenant Church missionary Pete Ekstrand said today that the northwest region of the country, where most of the CEUM churches minister, has remained largely calm.

The results of Parliament elections, which were held the same day as the presidential balloting, will be released in January. Ekstrand related, “One person today said, ‘Will the President also get a majority of seats in Parliament or will it have a minority? If a minority, then they have to compromise and work harder to build consensus.’ A friend also commented, ‘We just want the government to work.’ ”