Shaky, Successful Vote in the DR Congo
October 30th, 2006
Here’s a spot of hope amidst the ongoing chaos of the Congo.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is counting the ballots from the first democratic election held in the last 40 years, in what is being called a “generally successful vote… marred by a handful of incidents.” Source
The election is hoped to quell some of the ongoing violence within the country that has killed over 4 million people, mostly from hunger and disease, and kills an estimated 1,200 more every day at the hands of armed militias and rebel groups.
Image Source
According to Reuters,
Millions of Congolese voted on Sunday in a presidential election they desperately hope will end decades of war, pillage and kleptocracy and open a new chapter of reconstruction in the mineral-rich but destitute nation.
International monitors and the United Nations reported that the run-off vote pitting incumbent President Joseph Kabila against former warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba went smoothly except for a handful of incidents, including the death of two rioters.
Hopefully the election will bring about a peace that will allow the estimated 30,000 child soldiers that are still being held as victims of this horrible conflict to return home.
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