"Congo's Electoral Chaos: Protests and Fraud Claims Intensify as Deadline Looms"

The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing tensions as preliminary election results show President Tshisekedi in the lead with 72% of the votes counted, amidst opposition calls for a re-run due to alleged irregularities and an unscheduled ballot extension. The election commission (CENI) is under scrutiny for its vote counting methods, which combine paper tallies and voting machine figures, raising concerns about transparency. Full provisional results are expected by December 31, but the credibility of the election is being challenged by opposition candidates and observer groups.