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Unrest Continues as Congolese Await Election Results
CHICAGO, IL (November 15, 2006) – Fears of unrest remain as Congo prepares to announce official results for the presidential election that pitted incumbent Joseph Kabila again Jean-Pierre Bemba.
With nearly all votes counted, the Independent Electoral Commission's unofficial results have been posted on the Internet, giving Kabila 58 percent of the vote, with Bemba having received 42 percent. However, no official announcement will be made until the commission completes investigations into Bemba's complaints of fraud.
Both sides earlier agreed to abide by the election outcome, but Bemba supporters now have leveled charges of vote fraud, stating they will not abide by the earlier agreement if they determine the election results were tampered with to give the election to Kabila.
Last week, three civilians and a soldier were killed outside Bemba’s home in the midst of machine gun fire and mortar attacks during clashes between forces loyal to each side. United Nations peacekeeping troops, stationed outside Bemba’s home, struggled to maintain order.
“Even though the Congo is going through a difficult time, the Paul Carlson Partnership (PCP) remains in contact with the Evangelical Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM) and is carrying on the work of restoring the medical, education and transportation infrastructure,” says Dan Peterson, vice president of operations. He spoke today with CEUM President Mossai Sanguma, who believes the unrest will be short-lived.
The elections represent the first multi-party races since the country achieved independence in 1960. More than 1,000 international and 40,000 Congolese observers monitored the polls, while some 80,000 policemen, 17,600 United Nations troops, and 1,200 European Union soldiers assisted with security.
A run-off election became necessary after neither candidate garnered a majority vote in the first election that included numerous candidates. Kabila received 45 percent of that vote, with Bemba receiving 20 percent.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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