The internet has been shut down in
key cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo a day after the
much-delayed presidential election. Opposition candidate Martin
Fayulu's campaign team accused the government of ordering the shut down
to avoid broadcasting his "overwhelming victory" in Sunday's poll.
 |
| voters had to use their mobile phone lights to find their names at some polling stations |
Telecoms minister Emery Okundji said he was unaware of the situation. Observers have complained of widespread irregularities during the poll. Counting is under way, but provisional results are not expected until 6 January.
President
Joseph Kabila is stepping down after 17 years in office. He has
promised DR Congo's first orderly transfer of power since it gained
independence from Belgium in 1960. Mr Kabila is backing his former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, who is the ruling party's candidate. The
two main opposition candidates are Mr Fayulu, a former oil executive,
and Felix Tshisekedi, the son of the late veteran opposition leader
Etienne Tshisekedi.
What do we know about the shutdown?
In
the capital Kinshasa, the internet has not been working since the
morning while it is also down in the key eastern cities of Goma and
Lubumbashi, which are seen as opposition strongholds.
Internet
provider Global said in text messages to customers that the government
had ordered the shut down, AFP news agency reports.
A representative from the Vodacom mobile phone
network also said that the government ordered them to shut the internet
down, AFP reports.
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