Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides)- “The result might be a surprise for the international community but not for us here in Congo” a Catholic priest in Kinshasa Fr Valer Shango told Fides with regard to the outcome of elections held on 30 July in Democratic Congo. “Several other countries, convinced that outgoing president Joseph Kabila would win the first round, were surprised to see he gained only 44.8% of the votes while his main adversary, Jean-Pierre Bemba gained 20% of the votes”. There will be second round of elections on 29 October.
Leader of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), Bemba had the support of a number of parties which boycotted the elections to protest against alleged lack of transparency in the electoral mechanism.
Bemba’s popularity had grown in recent months especially since Étienne Tshisekedi, long standing opponent of the dictator Mobutu, who did not stand in the election, began to support the MLC leader “I was amazed to see Bemba walking calmly through the poorest districts of Kinshasa” Fr Shango told Fides. “Usually politicians meet with fierce protests in those areas where living conditions are desperate. Backed by Tshisekedi who is very popular among the poor, Bemba was able to walk through the streets welcomed by waving hands and applause”.
Immediately after the results were announced on 22 and 23 August there were clashes between Kabila’s presidential guard and the militia of Bemba in which at least 23 people were killed. It took an intervention of EUROFOR troops to stop the fighting. “Cardinal Frédérick Etsou, archbishop of Kinshasa also made a radio appeal for the fighting to stop” Fr Shango told Fides. “The local Catholic Church has worked hard to make the elections a success and will continue to help the country on its way to democracy and peace”.
“Despite the violence, the people passed the maturity test of the 30 July elections.” The priest said. “This was also thanks to the local Church which prepared the people with programmes of civic and electoral education in dioceses all over the country open to all for men and women of good will of whatever faith. Now we shall see if the sense of responsibility of our political leaders matches the maturity of the people”.
With regard to the second round of elections Fr. Shango hopes for a peaceful vote but he also fears that “who ever is elected President will not have a majority in parliament. This will be a challenge for Congo’s young democracy”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 28/8/2006 righe 42 parole 517)
