Driving through the streets of Lubumbashi’s Kenya district, the radio announced Joseph Kabila the provisional winner of the Congo’s presidential elections. Immediately, people ran out into the street, celebrating.
Just minutes before, with people huddled around a television in a cramped hairdressing salon in the Katubua district, air was sucked through teeth as Tshesekedi was declared to have won just 7.07% of Katanga’s vote.
Katuba is home to many Kassaïns, strong supporters of Tshesekedi. But in the neighbouring Kenya district, it is the Katangais who live, and despite some disgruntlement by undelivered promises, were happy to see him win today.
In the city centre, people celebrated around the central square, clutching flags and umbrellas and posters of Kabila. A strong force of police and army watched.
Driving out to other districts of Lubumbashi, where Kabila reigned people were in the streets celebrating. In the pro-Tshesekedi neighbourhoods, things were quiet, people stood around on the roadside, their arms folded. Some feared that it could descend into violence, as had happened several weeks previously when Tshesekedi supporters clashed with Kabila supporters. But not today.