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DR Congo election: Polls to open in tense vote | DR Congo election: Polls to open in tense vote |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Polls have opened in Africa's second largest country in an election delayed for more than two years. | |
Close to 40m people are eligible to vote in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where President Joseph Kabila - in power since 2001 - is standing down. | Close to 40m people are eligible to vote in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where President Joseph Kabila - in power since 2001 - is standing down. |
But the run-up has been hit by violence and controversy over the decision to exclude almost 1.3m people from voting. | But the run-up has been hit by violence and controversy over the decision to exclude almost 1.3m people from voting. |
On Saturday, rival candidates also failed to agree on a statement aimed at reducing tension before the poll. | On Saturday, rival candidates also failed to agree on a statement aimed at reducing tension before the poll. |
Voting began at 05:00 (04:00 GMT) and ends at 17:00. | |
What's the context for these elections? | What's the context for these elections? |
If everything passes without incident, this will be the first peaceful transition in DR Congo since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. | If everything passes without incident, this will be the first peaceful transition in DR Congo since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. |
The current president, Joseph Kabila, took over from his assassinated father Laurent in 2001, but he is barred from running for another term under the constitution. | The current president, Joseph Kabila, took over from his assassinated father Laurent in 2001, but he is barred from running for another term under the constitution. |
He was supposed to step down two years ago, but the election was postponed after the electoral commission said it needed more time to register voters. | He was supposed to step down two years ago, but the election was postponed after the electoral commission said it needed more time to register voters. |
The decision triggered violent clashes, as the opposition accused Joseph Kabila of trying to cling on to power. | The decision triggered violent clashes, as the opposition accused Joseph Kabila of trying to cling on to power. |
Then last week, the election was delayed again, for seven days, because of problems deploying voting materials to polling sites. | Then last week, the election was delayed again, for seven days, because of problems deploying voting materials to polling sites. |
This all came after thousands of electronic voting machines - being used for the first time - were destroyed in a fire in the capital, Kinshasa. | This all came after thousands of electronic voting machines - being used for the first time - were destroyed in a fire in the capital, Kinshasa. |
More on the DRC | More on the DRC |
Who's running for president? | Who's running for president? |
There are 21 candidates, but three frontrunners: | There are 21 candidates, but three frontrunners: |
What's the latest? | What's the latest? |
The three leading candidates and electoral officials met in a Kinshasa hotel on Saturday to, as Mr Fayulu said, "sign an agreement which ensures we will all behave correctly during and after the electoral process". | The three leading candidates and electoral officials met in a Kinshasa hotel on Saturday to, as Mr Fayulu said, "sign an agreement which ensures we will all behave correctly during and after the electoral process". |
But in the end, he and Mr Tshisekedi wanted amendments and refused to sign the text. | But in the end, he and Mr Tshisekedi wanted amendments and refused to sign the text. |
This week, voting in three districts was postponed until March, with the electoral commission blaming insecurity and an Ebola virus outbreak. | This week, voting in three districts was postponed until March, with the electoral commission blaming insecurity and an Ebola virus outbreak. |
About 1.2m people will not be able to vote on Sunday as a result. | About 1.2m people will not be able to vote on Sunday as a result. |
The decision in effect cancelled their votes, as the new president is due to be sworn in by mid-January regardless. | The decision in effect cancelled their votes, as the new president is due to be sworn in by mid-January regardless. |
A crowd attacked an Ebola clinic in the east of the country after the announcement. | A crowd attacked an Ebola clinic in the east of the country after the announcement. |
Regional observers will be keeping a close eye on voting, but European and American observers, who had concluded previous elections in the country had lacked credibility, have not been invited. | Regional observers will be keeping a close eye on voting, but European and American observers, who had concluded previous elections in the country had lacked credibility, have not been invited. |
More on the key presidential hopefuls | More on the key presidential hopefuls |
What is the significance of DR Congo? | What is the significance of DR Congo? |
The vast central African state is rich in mineral resources and is the world's leading producer of cobalt, used to power mobile phones and electric cars. | The vast central African state is rich in mineral resources and is the world's leading producer of cobalt, used to power mobile phones and electric cars. |
However, it has high levels of poverty, bad infrastructure, and a political and business elite accused of enriching itself at the expense of the poor. | However, it has high levels of poverty, bad infrastructure, and a political and business elite accused of enriching itself at the expense of the poor. |
It has also been at the centre of what some observers call "Africa's world war", between 1997 and 2003. | It has also been at the centre of what some observers call "Africa's world war", between 1997 and 2003. |
The conflict, which dragged in regional states, claimed up to six million lives, either as a direct result of fighting or because of disease and malnutrition. | The conflict, which dragged in regional states, claimed up to six million lives, either as a direct result of fighting or because of disease and malnutrition. |