At the end of a noisy week in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a strong regional body called on African countries to recount votes in the disputed presidential election there. The 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) has taken seriously "the strong doubts about the outcome of the elections, expressed by the Church, the opposition coalition and other observers. The group called for a recount to "provide reassurance for both winners and losers," as the group proposed "a negotiated political settlement to form a national unity government."

turning point

Few believe that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is going through a critical moment, but the important thing is that these long-delayed elections, which finally took place on December 30, are a turning point in the country's history, helping a nation rich in natural resources have a better future, or Could instead ignite chaos in this vast country in central Africa, which had never been known as a peaceful transition to power since independence from Belgium in 1960.

Supporters of Martin Fiolo, a former executive and parliamentary executive, accuse the leader of the largest opposition party in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Felix Chessykedi, of forging a deal with outgoing President Joseph Kabila. The results, which gave Chasekedi a simple and surprising victory, do not look like real votes, says Violo.

Across the continent there is close monitoring of the elections and the post-election power struggle between opposition leaders, where politics in Africa has reached a turning point. This year, more than 20 elections are expected to take place in Africa, from Algeria, Nigeria, African economic power, and even South Africa. Young voters are demanding a change in the generation of aging leaders, who are now seen as gendarmes. New dynamics are emerging in the continent driven by rapid urbanization, economic growth and social media, as a new group of leaders has begun to emerge on the political stage.

One indicator that is rising after a period of decline is that the number of voters increases when there is a feeling that the corrupt elite has stolen the resources and does not offer anything, in which case strong protest sounds. "People feel they can really change things like that," says Alex Vines, director of the Chatham House Africa program.

High bets

Bets seem to be extremely high in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, higher than elsewhere. The civil war in 1997-2002 killed nearly five million people, but the importance of ensuring stability is a double-edged sword. If ensuring stability is the justification for the leaders of South Africa and Angola to pressure Kabila, who took power in 2001, to hold elections, instability could also result from the absence of strong data expressing concerns about the possible manipulation that allowed opposition leader Chasekedi to seize power .

Many international players have been silent about what is going on in the DRC and have taken a similar reaction after the military took over Zimbabwe's government in November 2017, which ended former President Robert Mugabe's rule, according to Nick Chizman, an expert on African politics at Birmingham University. , Which lasted 37 years and replaced him with his deputy, Emerson Mnangagwa. "In Zimbabwe, the coup was promoted as a peaceful transition to power, and that's what everyone wanted," says Chizman. The situation looks very similar in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a relatively peaceful transition so far, so it is a way of making continuity look like a change. "

"The comments of the French and Belgian ministers on allegations of fraud in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been provoked by African officials, and immediately it becomes us," said Peter Fabrice, a South African analyst. "Why do these outsiders from the former colonial powers tell us that our election is not good? enough?".

Many African leaders face tough elections. In Algeria, it is not clear whether President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 81, will seek to prolong his rule, but the political elite is furious. In Nigeria, Mohamedou Bukhari, 77, is seeking re-election, despite his failure to live up to his promise to fight against graft and defeat the Boko Haram group. In South Africa, President Cyril Ramavuza launched the African National Electoral Conference (ANC) program on Saturday. This party has been in power since the end of the apartheid regime 25 years ago, but corruption and economic mismanagement have undermined the support it has received from the people. Ramafuza needs the ANC to get more than 60 percent of the vote in order to eliminate internal opponents and re-launch its political fortunes.

Transformation from democracy

Some analysts see a trend to shift from democratic aspirations and a growing desire for a more authoritarian government. As Ethiopian Prime Minister Abi Ahmad took a wave of popular enthusiasm away from the hybrid Chinese model, there are fears that Kabila's strategy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is attractive to some leaders. Shizman says few players have criticized the campaign that forced large opposition figures to go into exile, widespread human rights violations and the use of previously untested voting methods. "If the leaders think that this kind of election is right for them now, they will have no motivation to hold better elections in the future," he says.

- Some analysts believe there is a trend in the shift

About democratic aspirations, and an increasing desire

In a more despotic government.

- Ministers' comments

French and Belgians

On allegations of fraud in

Republic of the Congo

Democracy has fueled it

African officials.