By Talk Africa
DRC: Voting has begun, after almost a three-hour delay, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) presidential election as authorities scrambled to finalize preparations in an election facing steep logistical and security challenges.
With a population of 95.89 million Congolese only 44 million people have registered to vote in this year’s elections. It is feared that many, including several million have been displaced by conflict in the vast country’s East, could struggle to cast their ballots. The fighting has prevented 1.5 million people from registering to vote.
In the Eastern DRC, people said they were not finding their names on voting lists.
“The voters displayed on lists at the polling station are fewer than those who are lining up. I can’t find my name on the list and this could cause scuffles here because I also want to vote,” said Jules Kambale at a polling station in Goma.
Waiting for polls to open amid the delay, people grew agitated and began arguing, particularly in the capital.
Both outside observers and locals have warned of challenges that could affect the credibility of the vote in one of Africa’s largest nations and one whose mineral resources are increasingly crucial to the global economy.
On the eve of the vote, some polling officers in Kinshasa told The Associated Press journalists they were still waiting for materials. Thousands of stations, particularly in remote areas, might still not have what they need on Wednesday.
A key concern is that ink on voting cards has smudged, making many illegible. That means people could be turned away from polling stations. In addition, the voter registration list has not been properly audited.
“The organization of the elections raises lots of doubt regarding the credibility, the transparency and the reliability of the results,” said Bienvenu Matumo, a member of LUCHA, a local rights group.
Story first published on Al-Jazeera
