Angola Court Rejects Bid to Annul Election

The Angola Constitutional Court has rejected a petition by the main opposition party, to annul the results of last month’s general election.

The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, UNITA filed the complaint last Thursday after the electoral commission declared the ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola, MPLA the winner of the election.

The judges said, UNITA used a procedure reserved for situations in which “there are no other means intended to safeguard the useful effect of the alleged rights,” and therefore dismissed the claim.

According to the electoral commission results, MPLA won with 51% of the votes, handing President Joao Lourenco a second five-year term in office.

Meanwhile, UNITA received 44% of the votes.

BBC/CO