Tshisekedi Inaugurated DRC President

Felix Tshisekedi on January 24, 2019 was inaugurated as the new president of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). President Tshisekedi replaces incumbent President Joseph Kabila whose mandatory term in office as permitted by the country's Constitution has expired.

The inauguration which is the first ever peaceful transfer of power in DRC's post-independence history, took place at the Palace of the Nation in Kinshasa in the presence of the incumbent President Kabila and government officials, a cheering crowd of supporters, and some invited foreign guests. The latter included President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Kenya's main opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Contrary to unsubstantiated doubts about the outcome of the presidential election of which President Tshisekedi emerged the winner, by one of the presidential candidates, namely Martin Fayulu, and some outsiders; overall, majority of the people of DRC are reportedly happy with the outcome of the election irrespective of the political parties they belong. As such, they are now said to be behind President Felix Tshisekedi, the son of the founder of DRC's first opposition party, late charismatic Etienne Tshisekedi.

Earlier on January 23, 2019, USA officially recognized Felix Tshisekedi as DRC's legitimate president elect, and congratulated incumbent President Joseph Kabila for facilitating peaceful transfer of power.

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