Image source, AFP

The EU says it has "taken note" of the provisional results of the Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential election, AFP news agency reports.

It quoted EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic as saying:

She continued:

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the electoral commission in the Democratic Republic of Congo to finalise the election process "with speed" to ensure the credibility of the poll and to maintain peace and stability, his office said in a statement.

Mr Ramaphosa also wanted all local and international groups to refrain from speculating until the electoral commission concluded the process, his office added.

The commission should be allowed to "perform its legal and constitutional duties without interference and pressure", Mr Ramaphosa's office said.

Image source, EPA

The BBC's Piers Scholfield has tweeted more details from the Roman Catholic Church's press conference:

Observers from the influential Roman Catholic Church have cast doubts on the declaration of Felix Tshisekedi as the provisional winner of the Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential election.

A BBC correspondent is tweeting from their press conference:

The BBC's Fergal Keane has tweeted the reaction of South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa to the electoral commission's announcement in the Democratic Republic of Congo that opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi is the provisional winner of the heavily disputed presidential poll:

A journalist with the UK-based Financial Times newspaper has captured the irony of the row that has broken out in the Democratic Republic of Congo after Felix Tshisekedi was declared the "provisional winner" of the presidential election - an announcement that has been rejected as an "electoral coup" by another opposition candidate, Martin Fayulu.

As for President Joseph Kabila, he has not yet commented, but his adviser Barnabe Kikaya Bin Karubi told Reuters news agency that "democracy has triumphed", though he was disappointed that the ruling coalition's Emmanuel Shadary had come third.

Image source, AFP

Internet services have resumed in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, Kinshasa - a day after provisional results of the presidential election were announced, reports the BBC's Gaius Koweme from the city.

The government ordered a shutdown of internet services during the counting of votes, saying it did not want people to spread "false" information.

Critics accused the government of trying to suppress the truth about the counting process.

Residents in the eastern city of Goma have also confirmed that internet services have been restored there, our reporter adds.

• Read: Five things about the nation that powers your mobile phone

Image source, Getty Images

Democratic Republic of Congo opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi's election victory drew big crowds in the capital, Kinshasa.

The BBC's Fergal Keane has been tweeting about the celebrations:

Image source, EPA

DR Congo's ruling coalition says it is disappointed that its candidate, Emmanuel Shadary, had achieved a "low score" in the fiercely contested presidential election, AFP news agency reports.

"We are disappointed by the low score attributed to [our candidate] but we take note of the provisional announcement by the Independent National Election Commission.

"If needs be, we will see if there is any legal recourse," Lambert Mende, the spokesman for the Common Front for Congo (FCC), was quoted as saying.

The BBC's Mbelechi Sochi has been to the campaign headquarters of Felix Tshisekedi, where his supporters felt their long struggle for power has finally paid off.

One man said:

A crying woman said:

Another celebrating man had this to say:

A young man was certain the win was fair and deserved:

Image source, AFP

Here some key facts about Felix Tshisekedi:

• Son of late veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi who died in 2017
• Nicknamed "Fatshi", short for three of his names Felix Antoine Tshilombo
• Backed out of an opposition deal to have Martin Fayulu as unity candidate
• Ran on his own ticket with the backing of politician Vital Kamerhe
• Has promised to make the fight against poverty his priority

Read more:The man who stepped out of his father's shadow

Here's a breakdown of the provisional results from the Democratic Republic of Congo's landmark presidential election:

* Felix Tshisekedi: 38.57%

* Martin Fayulu: 34.8%

* Emmanuel Shadary: 23.8%

As you can see, Mr Shadary - the ruling coalition's candidate - not only lost, but he trailed the two main opposition candidates.

If the result is confirmed, Mr Tshisekedi will move into the presidential mansion, occupied by Joseph Kabila for the last 18 years.

Image source, Getty Images

Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has long been seen as a stronghold of the opposition. So it's not surprising that people are celebrating after Felix Tshisekedi was declared on Tuesday night the provisional winner of presidential elections, achieving something that his later father, Etienne, had failed to achieve.

The BBC's Louise Dewast has tweeted from a Tshisekedi stronghold;

Here are some photos of supporters of Democratic Republic of Congo opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi celebrating on the streets of the capital, Kinshasa, after the historic announcement that he is the provisional winner of the 30 December presidential election.

If the result is confirmed, Mr Tshisekedi will be the first opposition challenger to win since DR Congo gained independence.

Image source, AFP

Image source, AFP

Image source, AFP

The Democratic Republic of Congo has never had an orderly transfer of power since independence in 1960, as this graphic shows:

UN chief Antonio Guterres has appealed for calm in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following the dispute over the outcome of the presidential election.

"The Secretary-General calls on all stakeholders to refrain from violence and to channel any eventual electoral disputes through the established institutional mechanisms in line with the Democratic Republic of the Congo's constitution and relevant electoral laws," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York.

Image source, Re

Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders has joined France in raising doubts about Felix Tshisekedi's provisional victory in the Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential election, reports say.

Mr Reynders said Belgium would use its temporary seat on the UN Security Council to seek clarification about the result, Reuters news agency quotes him as telling Belgian public broadcaster RTBF.

"We have some doubts that we need to check and which will be debated in the coming days in the Security Council," Mr Reynders added.

DR Congo gained independence from Belgium in 1960.

Image source, Reuters

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi's victory did not conform with the results seen on the ground.

"We must have clarity on these results, which are the opposite to what we expected," Mr Le Drian told French broadcaster CNews.

"The Catholic Church of Congo did its tally and announced completely different results," he was quoted as saying.

There has been widespread speculation in recent days that the result was rigged so that former oil executive Martin Faulu does not become president. However, electoral officials say the election was credible.

Here's more from our correspondent in Kinshasa, Fergal Keane:

Felix Tshisekedi is the son of a legendary figure in Congolese politics - the late Etienne Tshisekedi - and leads the largest opposition party.

But up to now he has not enjoyed a reputation for political effectiveness. He is seen by many here as the opposition candidate who would have been least objectionable to President Joseph Kabila.

Whether Mr Tshisekedi has the intention or the capacity to challenge the powerful hold Mr Kabila enjoys over the army, security services and key ministries will determine whether politics here has really entered a new era.

Image source, AFP

He has already spoken of working with Mr Kabila to ensure the success of democracy.

For Mr Fayulu there are difficulties too. How does he decide to react? The most likely route for the moment is to try and challenge the result within the 10-day period parties are allowed under the law.

Given the closeness of the vote his supporters will point to claims of irregularities in several areas.

Significantly the Church and civil society on Wednesday called on citizens to avoid becoming involved in violence - a recognition of the dangers involved in street protests while facing security forces with a heavy-handed reputation.

Fergal Keane
BBC Africa editor, Kinshasa

Given the deeply polarised nature of politics here any result was going to leave a divisive aftermath.

And already the other opposition leader, Martin Fayulu, has denounced the victory of Felix Tshisekedi as a “fraud” that the people would “never accept”.

Image source, AFP

The figures certainly surprised the powerful Catholic Church which - according to the Reuters news agency - told diplomats a few days ago that Mr Fayulu was the clear victor.

The church had more than 40,000 election monitors and warned that there had been irregularities.

Mr Tshisekedi is the first opposition leader to win the presidency since the country became independent more than 50 years ago.

But rumours in recent days of talks between his party and the incumbent President Joseph Kabila have deepened suspicions among other opposition figures that this moment will not represent a decisive break with the past.