Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides)- The Independent Electoral Commission has issued the calendar for the second round of presidential and provincial elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Commission also established the dates of the electoral campaigns: from 28 September to 27 October for provincial elections and from 13 October to 27 October for presidential elections.
The election “machine” goes ahead then despite tension between the two presidency candidates outgoing president Joseph Kabila and vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba. After clashes on 20-22 August involving the respective guards of the two leaders in which 23 people were killed, on 19 September tension rose again in Kinshasa when police fired into the air to disperse demonstrators protesting after a fire destroyed a local television studios in Bemba. The TV supporters said it was ‘sabotage’ and the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (the vice president’s party) also said the act was criminal, although the investigation into the case has not been completed.
The United Nations Mission in DR Congo has urged the candidates to have a “sense responsibility” calling on the outgoing president and his challenger to “come to an agreement to restore reciprocal trust and guarantee respect for human rights during the election campaign”.
UN secretary general Kofi Annan, asked the two leaders “to reach an agreement on election campaign rules and to guarantee reciprocal security and participation in political life after the elections” warning that “any incitement to hatred and violence during the election period is totally unacceptable and anyone involved in this sort of activity will be held responsible”.
In this situation the work of the Independent Electoral Commission is indispensable to ensure a fair and peaceful vote. The Commission has started revision of electoral operations with a series of meetings in Kinshasa for coordinators of provincial electoral offices. Problems to be discussed include: recruiting and training polling booth staff, management of electoral documentation and material, awareness building among the electorate, etc…
In the meantime the voting papers for the second round of presidential elections will be printed in South Africa those for the provincial elections have already been printed and will soon be distributed all over the country. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/9/2006 righe 38 parole 453)
