Friends of Congo participated as international election observers
in both the July 2006 first round of elections and the October
2006 run-off between Jean Pierre Bemba and Joseph Kabila.
Our representatives observed polling in Kinshasa, the Congo
capital. Below are a few updates and assessments. Overall, the
voting both in July and October were peaceful and orderly at
the polling stations that we observed. People were able to vote
freely and efficiently.
Below are some insights regarding the overall process:
The Friends of the Congo delegation is still in the Congo. Polling
stations have begun to post results. However, official results
are not due until the end of August. Many people were pleased
with the relatively peaceful elections. One thing is resoundingly
clear, the Congolese want change and an end to the insufferable
war.
Unfortunately, the spirit and hope of the Congolese community
were not matched by the Congolese leadership and for that
matter the leadership of the international community. The
elections were structurally flawed from the outset, mainly
because the West and corporate powers did their best to tilt
the system to favor Kabila and the rebels (See Paule Bouvier
and Pierre Englebert article in July 2006 Foreign Policy for
a detailed account of how this was done).
Nonetheless, early results indicate that Bemba and Kabila
may be in the October 29 runoff. For all intents and purposes,
this is Sun City redux. At Sun City, South Africa during the
Inter-Congoelse Dialogue, Europe led by Louis Michel and the
United States supported the abortion of the process in a deal
where Kabila and Bemba would share power in Kinshasa. A group
of democrats lead by Etienne Tshisekedi stood up and said
no. They fought this attempt to steal the prospect of peace
from the Congolese people. In the end, it appears Louis Michel
and the rest of the international community may in fact get
their way. The Kabila, Bemba result may be the most palatable
result for the Congolese people to maintain peace. Should
Kabila outright win in the first round, the country "will
go up in flames" said presidential candidate Oscar Kashala.
With a Bemba, Kabila runoff, chances are the opposition forces
will either rally behind Bemba to bring the Kabila regime
to an end or outright protest the results.
