A close aide to Kabila dismissed Etienne Tshisekedi’s comments as showmanship and said the opposition leader had made similar calls against former President Mobutu Sese Seko that had been ignored by the people.
However, the veteran politician’s comments do threaten to escalate a row over the results of a November 28 presidential contest, which international observers say lacked credibility.
“I call on all of you to look for (Kabila) wherever he is in the country and bring him here alive,” Tshisekedi said in his first news conference since official figures showed he was soundly beaten by Kabila.
“If you bring Kabila here to me you’ll receive a great prize,” he said, urging the armed forces to obey the country’s “legitimate authority”.
The president, who was thought to be in Kinshasa on Sunday evening, has broad support within the military, although his rival is strongly backed by Kinshasa residents.
The election was meant to put Congo on a path to greater stability after decades of turmoil, but has instead deepened divisions. Around 20 people were reported killed in clashes before and afterwards as opposition supporters took to the streets accusing the government of vote rigging.
Election observers have said the poll, Congo’s second since a 1998-2003 civil war that killed more than five million people, was marred by irregularities, though Congo’s election commission has said any problems did not affect the ultimate outcome.