Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has been announced the winner of the Democratic Republic of Congo presidential poll in the 30 December election.

Tshisekedi’s historic win has however been marred by controversy with accusations of a stolen election.

According to France, on the ground monitors from the Catholic Church, the figures held by the electoral commision did not match the results, saying the runner-up Martin Fayulu was leading.

“We must have clarity on these results, which are the opposite to what we expected,” said France’s foreign minister Le Drian.

Fayulu has said that the results had “nothing to do with the truth” but the ruling party’s Shadary has already conceded.

Mr Tshisekedi will be the first opposition candidate to win the presidential poll since the DR of Congo gained independence in 1960.

According to provisional results announced by the head of DR Congo’s National Electoral Commission (Ceni), Corneille Nangaa, Mr Tshisekedi received 38.5% of the vote.

DR CONGO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2018 RESULTS

Felix Tshisekedi garnered 7 million votes against his closest rival Martin Fayulu 6.4 million votes while Joseph Kabila’s hand-picked candidate Emmanuel Shadary came in third with 4.4 million votes.

If his election is upheld, Tshisekedi will be taking over from President Kabila, who stepped down after 18 years in office.