Congo opposition plans protest over disputed election

An election official checks the identity cards of people who are waiting to vote in the Democratic Republic of Congo's parliamentary and presidential election after authorities extended opening hours for polling stations that failed to open the previous day, in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo December 21, 2023. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra/File Photo

BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) -A group of Congolese opposition candidates have written to the governor of Kinshasa to say they will hold a joint protest next week over the country's disputed general election, as foreign embassies called on all sides to show restraint.

Election disputes often fuel unrest in Democratic Republic of Congo and risk further destabilising a country with globally important reserves of cobalt and copper, and which is battling widespread poverty and an eastern security crisis.