In the Democratic Republic of Congo, tensions escalated as police clashed with opposition supporters who were demanding the annulment of last week's presidential poll. Leading opposition candidates have denounced the election as a sham and called for a rerun.

The capital city of Kinshasa witnessed violent confrontations between police and protesters, resulting in several people being wounded. Police responded by firing tear gas and throwing stones at the demonstrators. The government had previously banned the protest, emphasizing that it would not tolerate any attempts to undermine the electoral process.

Despite ongoing unrest, the exact number of opened polling stations and the voter turnout for the December 20th election is yet to be officially announced by election officials. However, approximately 44 million people were registered to vote at around 75,000 polling stations across the country.

With over nine million ballots counted so far, President Etienne Tshisekedi is currently leading with nearly 80% of the vote as he seeks a second term. His closest rival is football tycoon and mining magnate Moïse Katumbi, who has garnered around 16% of the vote. Former oil executive Martin Fayulu, who claims to have been robbed of victory in the 2018 election, is trailing in third place with approximately 4% of the vote.

Supporters of Martin Fayulu expressed their outrage by burning tires and clashing with police outside his campaign headquarters in Kinshasa. In response, police established positions on key roads in the city and prevented a planned march to the headquarters of the electoral commission.

Mr. Fayulu reported that 11 of his supporters were injured during the clashes, while the police reported two injuries on their side.

The recent election was marred by logistical delays and administrative chaos, leading to voting being extended to a second day in certain areas of the country. The opposition has also accused the electoral commission of orchestrating fraud and engaging in ballot stuffing to ensure Mr. Tshisekedi's victory. However, the commission vehemently denies these accusations.

In addition to the presidential race, voters also cast their ballots for parliamentary, provincial, and municipal representatives, with a total of approximately 100,000 candidates in the running.

It is worth noting that due to concerns over security, elections were not held in some parts of the eastern region.

As tensions continue to escalate, the situation remains uncertain in the aftermath of the Congo's presidential election. The demands for a rerun and allegations of electoral fraud underscore the deep divisions and challenges faced by the nation as it strives for a peaceful and fair democratic process.