Tens of thousands of candidates, including the 26 candidates running for the highest office, officially launched a month-long election campaign in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, in a tense political climate and against the backdrop of armed conflict in the east.

Opposition heavyweights did not hesitate to motivate their bases, while President Félix Tshisekedi, who is seeking a second term in office, held a series of inaugurations as his team trumpeted his achievements in a wide range of fields.

Félix Tshisekedi himself saw things through from day one, with a meeting at the Martyrs’ stadium in Kinshasa, while one of his main challengers, Martin Fayulu, harangued the crowds in a neighbouring province.

On December 20th, some 44 million registered voters out of a population of around 100 million will be called upon to elect their president, as well as choosing from over 100 thousand candidates for the legislative provincial and municipal elections.