Congo's election marred by violence

Voters in Congo

 AFRICA - After years of conflict, the Congolese took to the polls. As feared, Congo elections was marred by killings and attacks on polling stations. Intimidation of voters, electoral fraud and delays was also reported during Democratic Republic of Congo's second election. But voters have come out in full force despite the violence.

In the capital, Kinshasa, Human Rights Watch said weekend violence left nine dead and 76 injured, and rain meant people had to tread through mud along pot-holed roads on their journey to the polls. Voters complained of confusion over where they were meant to be voting due to polling stations being moved and errors with voter lists. There were also allegations of fraud and cheating.


At a school hosting a polling station in Kintambo district, an election official was alledgedly attacked by a furious mob who claimed he had tampered with presidential ballot papers. A policeman tried to intervene but shouting and physical aggression continued.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo  (DRC) is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world. With a population of over 71 million, the DCR is the fourth most populous nation in Africa, as well as the most populous officially Francophone country.

The Second Congo War sometimes referred to as the "African world war" began in 1998 devastating the country. It involved nine African nations and over twenty armed groups. Despite the signing of peace accords in 2003, fighting continues in the east of the country. In eastern Congo, the prevalence of rape and other sexual violence is described as the worst in the world. The war is the world's deadliest conflict since World War II, killing 5.4 million people since 1998.Congo opposition supporters have paraded what they claim are badly printed photocopies of election ballots found in Kinshasa.The sounds of gunfire and anger punctuated election day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as millions of people got their second taste of democracy. This is Congo's second election since its 1998-2003 war.

The Democratic Republic of Congo