News
DR Congo elections update
After a campaign marred by violence between government and opposition supporters, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s chief rivals in national elections were expected to hold final rallies on Saturday in Kinshasa.
Both incumbent President Joseph Kabila and main challenger Etienne Tshisekedi‘s campaigns said on Friday they wanted to hold their last rallies at the capital city’s largest stadium, Stade des Martyrs, adding to tensions that have already triggered several street fights between their supporters.
Local media reports early on Saturday said Tshisekedi would instead hold his rally on a nearby boulevard, but the proximity of the two venues, and another nearby rally planned by a third top presidential contender, ex-national assembly speaker Vital Kamerhe, raised concern in the capital.
“Right now Kinshasa is still calm, but let’s see how this afternoon goes, because all three main presidential candidates are expected in town today,” Dirk Koch, director of international organisation Search for Common Ground, said.
“The latest news, is that they will all be holding their meetings very close to each other, so let’s hope that in the afternoon everything will pass peacefully,” Koch, whose group is running an anti-violence campaign ahead of the elections, told AFP.
The UN Security Council, the European Union and other Western governments have all voiced concern at violence in the run-up to the vote and called for candidates to avoid stirring up their supporters with inflammatory rhetoric.
Tshisekedi’s party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), said he would fly in Saturday morning from the southwestern province of Bas-Congo, promising in a text message: “It will be like Jesus entering Jerusalem! Heart patients, stay away.”
Hundreds of supporters had heeded the call by mid-morning, lining the main road to the airport and stretching campaign banners across it, blocking traffic.
Several big trucks carrying hundreds of supporters were making loops around the Kingasani market near the airport, with crowds of people following behind and trying to climb on board, AFP correspondents said.
There were also pickup trucks with riot police circulating near the airport.
“We are ready. Everyone here is really psyched up to welcome Mr Tshisekedi. He is the charismatic opposition leader and the next leader of Congo,” said Alex, a 37-year-old supporter in the midst of the fray.
But there were also Kabila backers in the area.
“Kabila promised to reunite the country, he promised elections, and he has made that happen. Everything that he has promised the people of Congo, he has made happen,” said Kiriaune, 30.
Kabila is not very popular in Kinshasa. He was born on the other side of the country, in the eastern province of Sud-Kivu, and grew up in exile with his rebel father, Laurent Kabila, from whom he inherited power in 2001 after his assassination.
He speaks little Lingala, the main local language, and faces a tough battle here against his 10 presidential rivals.
But he enjoys more popularity in other parts of the country.
Koch said that could create frustration among voters if Kabila wins the single-round vote, the outcome most analysts expect.
“In many of the cities the president is not popular, but he has some popularity across the country. In many cities people might say that we did not vote for him, but if he comes second in all the provinces he might still win, even though nobody has the feeling that they actually elected him,” he said.
Copyright 2011 AFP.