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| DR Congo election: Presidential poll hit by delays | DR Congo election: Presidential poll hit by delays |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sunday's vote for a new president in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been hit by a series of delays that have left people frustrated. | Sunday's vote for a new president in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been hit by a series of delays that have left people frustrated. |
| The failure of new electronic voting machines in some polling stations was one of the challenges. | The failure of new electronic voting machines in some polling stations was one of the challenges. |
| Polls have now closed in an election that is expected to bring the country's first peaceful transfer of power since independence in 1960. | Polls have now closed in an election that is expected to bring the country's first peaceful transfer of power since independence in 1960. |
| President Joseph Kabila is stepping down after 17 years in power. | President Joseph Kabila is stepping down after 17 years in power. |
| The final result is expected be announced in a week's time. | The final result is expected be announced in a week's time. |
| The election should have taken place two years ago but was repeatedly postponed because of logistical problems, officials said. | The election should have taken place two years ago but was repeatedly postponed because of logistical problems, officials said. |
| The run-up to the poll had been hit by violence and controversy over the decision to exclude some 1.26 million out of an electorate of nearly 40 million from voting. | The run-up to the poll had been hit by violence and controversy over the decision to exclude some 1.26 million out of an electorate of nearly 40 million from voting. |
| Polls officially closed at 17:00 (16:00 GMT), but people still in the queue at that time were allowed to vote. | |
| How did the day go? | How did the day go? |
| Things started slowly in the capital, Kinshasa, because of heavy rain. | Things started slowly in the capital, Kinshasa, because of heavy rain. |
| There have been delays in a number of areas because of problems with the electronic voting machines, which are being used for the first time. | There have been delays in a number of areas because of problems with the electronic voting machines, which are being used for the first time. |
| There was frustration in Limete, a district of Kinshasa, as the electoral register had not been delivered and people were unable to vote. | There was frustration in Limete, a district of Kinshasa, as the electoral register had not been delivered and people were unable to vote. |
| Those waiting then booed the head of the electoral commission (Ceni), Corneille Nangaa, who had come to the scene. | Those waiting then booed the head of the electoral commission (Ceni), Corneille Nangaa, who had come to the scene. |
| One voter there, Fidele Imani, told the BBC he felt positive after voting. "We have been waiting for two years and I'm happy to vote today," he said. | One voter there, Fidele Imani, told the BBC he felt positive after voting. "We have been waiting for two years and I'm happy to vote today," he said. |
| "We want change here, we need peace and security and people need more employment opportunities." | "We want change here, we need peace and security and people need more employment opportunities." |
| There were isolated incidents of violence. A police officer and a civilian were killed in Walungu, South Kivu province, in an altercation at a polling station, a UN official told the BBC. | There were isolated incidents of violence. A police officer and a civilian were killed in Walungu, South Kivu province, in an altercation at a polling station, a UN official told the BBC. |
| Voters eventually see 'historic day' | Voters eventually see 'historic day' |
| Louise Dewast, BBC News, Kinshasa | Louise Dewast, BBC News, Kinshasa |
| I visited two polling stations throughout the day. At the first location, one electronic voting machine broke down, causing delays, but generally the mood was calm. | I visited two polling stations throughout the day. At the first location, one electronic voting machine broke down, causing delays, but generally the mood was calm. |
| I arrived at the second location six hours after polling stations were meant to have opened - but no one could vote because electoral rolls hadn't arrived. | I arrived at the second location six hours after polling stations were meant to have opened - but no one could vote because electoral rolls hadn't arrived. |
| At least 200 people were waiting, angry at the situation. Finally the electoral roll arrived and voting started. | At least 200 people were waiting, angry at the situation. Finally the electoral roll arrived and voting started. |
| Similar issues were reported by observers in several other locations. | Similar issues were reported by observers in several other locations. |
| Despite a chaotic electoral process, in general voters seemed motivated and glad this historic day finally took place. | Despite a chaotic electoral process, in general voters seemed motivated and glad this historic day finally took place. |
| Who's running for president? | Who's running for president? |
| There are 21 candidates, but three frontrunners: | There are 21 candidates, but three frontrunners: |
| Regional observers monitored the vote but international observers, who had concluded previous elections in the country had lacked credibility, have not been invited. | Regional observers monitored the vote but international observers, who had concluded previous elections in the country had lacked credibility, have not been invited. |
| 'Citizen votes' | 'Citizen votes' |
| 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. |
| The decision in effect cancelled over one million votes, as the new president is due to be sworn in by mid-January regardless. | The decision in effect cancelled over one million votes, as the new president is due to be sworn in by mid-January regardless. |
| But some activists in places where polling has been cancelled have organised their own election, dubbed "citizen votes", the BBC's Gaius Kowene reports from the main eastern city of Goma. | But some activists in places where polling has been cancelled have organised their own election, dubbed "citizen votes", the BBC's Gaius Kowene reports from the main eastern city of Goma. |
| They are using ballot boxes from the 2011 elections and printed their own voting papers. | They are using ballot boxes from the 2011 elections and printed their own voting papers. |
| "We want to show the Ceni that if they fail to organise elections here because of Ebola, we can do it," organiser Katembo Malikidogo told the BBC. | "We want to show the Ceni that if they fail to organise elections here because of Ebola, we can do it," organiser Katembo Malikidogo told the BBC. |
| More on the key presidential hopefuls | More on the key presidential hopefuls |
| What's the context for these elections? | What's the context for these elections? |
| The current president took over from his assassinated father Laurent in 2001, but he was barred from running for another term under the constitution. | The current president took over from his assassinated father Laurent in 2001, but he was 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 Mr Kabila of trying to cling on to power. | The decision triggered violent clashes, as the opposition accused Mr Kabila of trying to cling on to power. |
| Then last week, the election was delayed again. | Then last week, the election was delayed again. |
| Speaking at a polling station, the president tried to address concerns about the voting, saying: "It's clear that the elections are free and fair." | Speaking at a polling station, the president tried to address concerns about the voting, saying: "It's clear that the elections are free and fair." |