DRC elections: Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi declared president

Democratic Republic of Congo electoral commission has declared opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi as the winner of December presidential election.

The commissioner announced the results on Thursday as the country witnessed the first electoral transfer of power in 59 years of independence.

His surprise win has already controversial after outspoken opposition Martin Fayulu who had been in an early lead denounced the results.

Tshisekedi has vowed to be the president "of all Congolese" after receiving more than seven million votes.

The swearing-in of the new president is planned for January 18.

Challenge the results in court

Candidates who lost the election can contest the results before the country's constitutional court.

Fayulu described the results of Thursday as an 'electoral coup' saying 'results have nothing to do with the truth of the ballot box'.

Two diplomats told Reuters that DRC's Catholic Church found Fayulu had clearly won the election.

UN is watching

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all parties to “refrain from violence and … to channel any electoral disputes through the established institutional mechanisms.”

He added that the UN is taking notes of the development in the DRC.