Martin Madidi Fayulu (born 21 November 1956) is a Congolese politician and businessman. He is the leader of the Engagement for Citizenship and Development party.
On 11 November 2018, he was chosen by seven opposition leaders to be their joint presidential candidate in the 2018 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election. However, within 24 hours, Félix Tshisekedi, the eventual official winner of the 2018 presidential election, despite being widely viewed as fraudulent, and Vital Kamerhe, the other opposition candidate, rescinded their endorsement of his candidacy and formed their own pact with Tshisekedi as candidate.
Félix Tshisekedi was declared the winner of the December 2018 election, despite election observers' belief that Fayulu had won the vote, in what was seen by Fayulu and his supporters as a deal between Tshisekedi and outgoing President Joseph Kabila. The Latest: Opposition candidate Fayulu denounces results. Associated Press. Published 10 January 2019. Runner-up in Congo's presidential election dismisses results as an 'electoral coup'. Reuters. Published 10 January 2019. Fayulu challenged the result in the DRC's Constitutional Court, which has been criticised for being staffed primarily by Kabila appointees, and thus by late January 2019 the court ruled that Tshisekedi was the rightful winner and he was sworn in as President. The Latest: Congo runner-up: Don't recognize Tshisekedi. ABC News, 19 January 2019 DR Congo top court upholds Tshisekedi presidential election win. France24, 19 January 2019 He has continued to remain active in politics since the election, continuing to claim that he was the rightful winner. Congo president and predecessor agree on division of cabinet posts. Reuters, 26 July 2019 In late July 2019, he met in Lubumbashi with members of the opposition, including former Katanga Province governor Moïse Katumbi, former Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito, and a representative of former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba. They discussed the future of the opposition and democracy in the DRC. DR Congo: Opposition leaders meet in Lubumbashi. Africa News, 31 July 2019
During the M23 campaign in early 2025, Fayulu called on the leader of the rebel Congo River Alliance, Corneille Nangaa, to stop the fighting and to respect the integrity of the country's territory and the lives of Congolese people.
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