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Elections Congo is preparing for its first free elections in more than 40 years.
The majority of the population sees the elections as a historic opportunity to put an end to military rule, to unrest, corruption and mismanagement, and as a promise of human rights and for social and economic progress.
The current interim government has the task to organise these elections for the parliament, provinces and president, and to provide the necessary laws. It is a complex operation that already led to postponement of the primaries, from June 2005 to late March 2006. Because of the problems encountered in registering voters, they were be postponed again to June 2006.
Before the actual elections are held, a referendum was held on the draft of the constitution, which was drawn up by the current interim government.
Registration problems
According to the Committee for Independent Elections (Commission Electorale Indépendante, CEI), there needed to be 9,000 registration centres and 40,000 polling stations before the referendum on the constitution could be held.
 | | During the referendum (photo: AP) |
In the capital city, Kinshasa, voter registration was completed in June, but more difficulties were being encountered in other regions of Congo. This was due primarily to logistical problems caused by the inadequate infrastructure.
The referendum on the constitution
The draft constitution states that Congo will become a decentralised union. There is a great deal of opposition to that concept, and it was uncertain whether a majority of the voters would say “yes” in the referendum. The abuses committed by Mobutu’s former central government are still very fresh in the memories of many Congolese, who would prefer a federal system.
Results of the referendum
The referendum on the constitution was held on 18 December. Political parties in Congo and the international community called for the people to vote en masse and give their “yes” to the new constitution. A rejection of the text would throw the country into a “legal vacuum”, some said.
The constitution creates a decentralised administration, but still maintains a strong central authority in the capital city of Kinshasa. According to the constitution, 60 per cent of tax revenues will go to the central government and 40 per cent to the provinces. A president is only allowed to serve two terms of five years each.
Of the people who cast their votes in the referendum on the constitution, more than 84 per cent voted “yes”.
International involvement
The international community sees the elections and the reform of the security sector (police and armies) as an absolute requirement for the political, economic and social reconstruction of the country.
The transition process is guided by the CIAT (Comité International d’Accompagnement de la Transition), which is comprised of fifteen countries. These include Angola, Belgium, the five members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Great Britain, USA and the Russian Federation), South Africa, the African Union, the European Union and MONUC. The European Union pays for approx. 80% of the costs of the elections.
The international community, represented primarily by Belgium and South Africa, puts serious pressure on the parties to keep the process going forward.
The foreign intervention is also subject to criticism. The Congolese parties complain about infringement on their sovereignty. Others think that the countries are angling for a share of Congo’s natural wealth.
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