In December, the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will head to the polls to elect a successor to long-time President Joseph Kabila.
Democratic Republic of Congo articles on Democracy Chronicles
News about the struggle for democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Democratic Republic of Congo is not a functioning democracy. According to Freedom House, the "2011 elections were marked by a lack of preparation, changes in the structure and function of the electoral commission, limited international logistical support, and inadequate accountability and follow-through on irregularities". Also see our section on World Democracy and our articles on Africa.
Rights Violations Threaten Credibility of DRC Elections
Restrictions to civil and political rights in the Congo are calling into question the credibility of upcoming presidential elections.
At UN, Congo’s Kabila Vows ‘Peaceful, Credible’ Elections
DRC President Joseph Kabila pledged at the UN on Tuesday that “peaceful, credible” elections would be held in his country as planned at the end of the year.
Kabila’s Prefered Successor Has Serious Challengers In DRC Election
Joseph Kabila’s preferred successor as president of the D.R.C will face a credible election challenge in December from two oppositionleaders.
Congo’s Music Artists Are Getting Increasingly Political
In the DRC, musician Lexxus Legal leads a group that gathers once a month in Kinshasa, calling for rap artists to get involved in helping fix the country.
Police Accused of Using Force to Break Up Peaceful Congo Protests
The U.N. human rights office accuses police in the Democratic Republic of Congo of violently breaking up peaceful protests ahead of the election campaign.
Congo’s Constitutional Court Excludes Bemba From Presidential Race
Congo’s Constitutional Court has excluded presidential hopeful Jean Pierre Bemba from the upcoming presidential election. The decision came Monday.
In DRC, Youth Activists Mobilize For Post-Kabila Era
Young Congolese were at the forefront of calls for President Kabila not to seek re-election. Kabila yielded, now voters are gearing up for December 23 poll.
Congo’s Kabila Won’t Run Again for Presidency
DRC President Joseph Kabila says he will not seek re-election. This is set to be the first peaceful transition of power since independence.
DRC Elections: Bemba Succeeds to Apply as Presidential Candidate
Jean-Pierre Bemba, 55, has succeeded to apply as a presidential candidate for the long-delayed elections to be held on 23 December 2018 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.