KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- The tense political climate that's existed in DRC since November presidential elections underscores the need for national reconciliation, a U.N. envoy said.
The Supreme Court in the Democratic Republic of Congo upheld results that indicated President Joseph Kabila won a November election over opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi.
Human Rights Watch said it had evidence to suggest at least 24 people were killed and many more arrested since the declaration was made in favor of Kabila. Those killed, the rights group said, include members of the opposition.
Herve Ladsous, U.N. undersecretary-general for peacekeeping operations, said the post-election violence highlighted the need for national reconciliation.
"It's necessary that we continue to make progress in our work with national authorities to find solutions to consolidate the state, the rule of law and facilitate national reconciliation, something everybody wants to succeed," he told a radio station affiliated with the U.N. mission there.
Elections in DRC were only the second since the country gained independence in 1960. Kabila denied allegations that he won a second term through vote tampering.
Observers with the Carter Center, which has headquarters in Atlanta, said they found the DRC vote lacked credibility.
More than 30 million people were registered to vote in a contest featuring 11 presidential candidates and roughly 18,000 candidates for the country's legislative assembly.
