LUSAKA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Friday called on all stakeholders in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to refrain from acts of violence while the final results of the country's presidential vote are pending.
Zambian President Edgar Lungu, also chairperson of the SADC, an inter-governmental organization of 16 southern African states, made the remarks in a statement released by his office, saying the bloc has taken note of the dispute over the elections.
"SADC calls upon all stakeholders with concerns, including regarding the accuracy of the results, to pursue any election dispute about the provisional results, peacefully, through avenues provided by the existing national legal framework, and resolve their differences through political dialogue among all stakeholders," Lungu said.
He added that the regional body welcomes the release of provisional results of the elections and reaffirmed its commitment to assisting the DRC with respect to neutralize negative forces and other armed groups operating in the eastern part of the country.
The DRC opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has been proclaimed the winner in the provisional results announced, but another opposition leader, the runner-up Martin Fayulu, disputed the results and vowed to challenge them in court.
The final results will be released in the coming days according to a new timetable after confirmation of the provisional results by the Constitutional Court in accordance with the DRC's national law.
