Sunday’s run-off election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was democratic, peaceful, credible and transparent, the South African election observer team in the country said on Tuesday.
Head of the South African observers, Deputy Defence Minister Mluleki George, said the Congolese were able to freely bring out their vote.
”The mission is of the view that space was created for the people of the DRC to freely choose their leaders,” George said in a statement.
”Under very difficult conditions, logistical challenges and limited resources, the CEI [Congolese Independent Electoral Commission] has once again managed to organise successful elections,” he said.
The vote, pitting President Joseph Kabila against ex-rebel chief Jean-Pierre Bemba, was for the most part peaceful.
The mission noted a few incidents of violence in Bumba in the Equateur Province, where two people were reported to have died following clashes between supporters of two political parties.
”The mission also noted with great concern an incident in Ituri District where two CEI staff members are reported to have been killed and eight people injured,” George said.
He added that while the mission viewed the incidents in a serious light they were isolated.
”The challenge now facing the political leaders is to ensure that reconstruction of the country takes place for the betterment of the lives of all Congolese.”
The observer mission will continue to observe the counting and capturing of election results, George said. — Sapa