Regional body SADC calls for DR Congo election vote recount

The Democratic Republic of Congo should recount the votes of its contested presidential election that the runner-up says was rigged, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said.
“A recount would provide the necessary reassurance to both winners and losers,” SADC said in a statement on Sunday.
The 16-member bloc recommended a government of national unity including parties representing Kabila, Fayulu and Tshisekedi that could promote peace.
Members of the regional body include Angola and South Africa, old allies of President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled the central African country for the last 17 years.
“SADC draws the attention of Congolese politicians to similar arrangements that were very successful in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya” that created the “necessary stability for durable peace,” the statement said.
The December 30 poll was supposed to mark Congo’s first uncontested democratic transfer of power since the mineral-rich country gained independence from Belgium in 1960.
But runner-up Martin Fayulu claims that he, in fact, won by a landslide and that the official winner, opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi, struck a deal with Kabila to be declared the victor.
Tshisekedi and Kabila deny this.