Trouble ahead as Congo polls loom
Supporters of the Union for the Congolese Nation party’s presidential candidate, Vital Kamerhe, attend the first electoral campaign meeting of their party in Kinshasa on Oct. 30, 2011.
Worrying signs in the Democratic Republic of Congo as national elections on Nov. 28 draw near.
A quick scan of recent media reports paints an unhappy picture of electoral violence, dangerous rhetoric, incompetence, possible fraud and widespread anger and concern.
With its political risk hat on, the Reuters news agency has a useful cheat sheet on the coming polls.
Think tanks like the International Crisis Group continue to advocate for justice as the only path to lasting peace.
If you want to keep up-to-speed with the twists and turns as Congo’s D-Day approaches, you can do worse than checking in with the UN-sponsored Radio Okapi (if you understand French) or Jason Stearns’ CongoSiasa blog.