[Note: This diary is the next installment of 10 Stories the World Should Hear More About as identified by the United Nations for 2006, a Booman Tribune Group Project suggested and coordinated by ManEegee. For further information see Group Project: 10 Most Underreported Stories.
As the world is applauding the determination of the Congolese people and leadership to take a crucial step in the country’s transition from a bloody civil war to peace and democracy, the steep humanitarian challenges facing the devastated nation must not be forgotten.
Voting simulation exercise prior to the National elections which took
place on 30 July 2006, Mendako, Commune de Maluku, Kinshasa, DRC,
July 2006. MONUC Photo/Serge Kasanga
An estimated 4 million people killed since 1998.
Approximately 6,000 women and girls have been identified as victims of sexual violence.
Against this backdrop of war, violence, and despair, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) begins a new page in its history. On July 30th, 2006 the DRC bravely held its first multiparty elections in 45 years. This election faced difficult challenges; include a plea by the Catholic Church to boycott the elections. During a recent interview, Dr Jo Lusi, a Senator in the DRC transition government, emphasized the need to continue moving forward with the democratic progress:
“Actually, it is true, we really think that democracy is about tolerating people who have different ideas. They are right, there are mistakes, but we still need some democracy at least to begin working on that ground. And I can really say that we’re tired. And after this long, long suffering we said it is the time now to try something else.”
“Outside of the chaos we want to rebuild and to come again together. That will work. We call it democracy, we call it order, we call it sitting together, we call it tolerating one another. That is democracy”
(Continued)
Election Facts
The Independent Electoral Commission
IEC) presents the electoral kits and the
ballot paper to the political parties.
MONUC Photo/ CEI
“Elections are the foundation for the longer term restoration of peace and stability, national reconciliation and establishment of the rule of law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”
UN Security Council Resolutio – 30 June 2006
To truly understand the task this election process required, let’s take a look at some facts, identified by the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), which defines the breadth and scope of bring the DRC to this point in their history.
* On 30 July 2006, the Congolese electorate cast their votes in some 53,000 polling stations for 33 presidential and over 9,647 national legislative candidates.
* These were the first elections in DRC for more than 40 years.
* Approximately 25.7 million people registered as voters, out of an estimated voting population of 28 million.
* 267 political parties registered to participate in the electoral process.
* The electoral process was the largest ever conducted with UN support.
* The elections were organized by the country’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in accordance with the Constitution of the DRC and the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement.
* The UN Development Program’s Electoral Assistance Project (APEC) and a number of international partners provided essential technical and logistical support to the IEC.
* MONUC supported the DRC authorities in providing security for the elections through direct assistance and through the training of the national police force. In addition, MONUC undertook a number of other activities for the elections, including transporting voting material and electoral personnel to the approximately 53,000 polling sites around the country.
* There were 169 different types of ballots weighing together about 1,800 tons and requiring many flights to deliver to the polling stations across the country.
* The international community organized personnel training for 300,000 poll workers and 50,000 police officers.
* Over 45,000 police officers were trained; 37,000 of whom were trained by MONUC. 80,000 police officers were deployed to provide security during the electoral period.
* Approximately 70 percent of the MONUC’s 17,600-strong military contingent took part in election-related duties involving public protection, safety and escorts.
* Some 40,000 domestic observers and about 1,500 international observers monitored the vote.
A handicapped exercised his right
to vote on July 30th in Ubundu (Oriental
Province) Photo Daniel Cure / MONUC
This election effort constitutes one of the most complex election undertakings in United Nation’s history. The MONUC is currently the largest UN peacekeeping mission in the world with more than 17,600 uniformed personnel from 58 countries. Eighty percent of MONUC’s military and police personnel are deployed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where Congolese and foreign militias continue to fight, more than three years after the civil war ended. MONUC has suffered one of the highest numbers of casualties from hostile acts among the current peacekeeping missions, with 22 lives lost in the past 18 months alone. As of 30 June 2006, a total number of 92 peacekeepers have lost their lives while serving with MONUC.
A voting scene from one of the many polling “tents” in Mbandaka (Equateur Province) Photo Susana Gouveia
MONUC’s approved budget for 2006-2007 is about $1.1 billion. The total cost of MONUC’s operations over the last seven years is approximately $3.8 billion. Since it was established in 1999, MONUC’s major activities have included the provision of security, protection of civilians, political assistance during the transitional period, disarming and integrating combatants into society, training the police force, monitoring human rights, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and assisting with the organization of national elections.
Even in beginning down the road to a more peaceful and democratic country, every step is being met with almost insurmountable obstacles. In Part II, of this diary, I will provide a condensed overview of the major issues that the DRC’s newly elected government will have to address to bring stability and stability to this war ravaged nation.
UN10: Part II – Democratic Republic of the Congo – Humanitarian Concerns
For more information on the Democratic Republic of Congo, please refer to the Internet resources, obtained from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Democratic Republic of Congo- Internet Resources
News
Yahoo! News Full Coverage – DR Congo news headline links
Friends of the Congo
US Department of State’s Travel Warnings – Advising US Residents not to visit
IRIN News page for DRC, from the United Nations
United Nations News Centre – DRC
Overviews
CIA World Factbook – Democratic Republic of the Congo
Guardian Unlimited – Special Report: Congo
Library of Congress Country Study – Zaire (Former) data as of December 1993
Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding Congo
United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)
Directories
Open Directory Project – Democratic Republic of the Congo directory category
Stanford University – Africa South of the Sahara: Democratic Republic of the Congo directory category
University of Pennsylvania – African Studies Center: Democratic Republic of Congo directory category
Yahoo! – Congo, Democratic Republic of the directory category
Democratic Republic of the Congo travel guide from Wikitravel
Additional Resources
Globalissues.org – The Democratic Republic of Congo last updated October 31, 2003
Wildlife Conservation Society – Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kim Gjerstad’s blog, photos and stories from DR Congo (Blog)
The Salon: Opinion and News on Congo, and Africa (Blog)
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – Ripples of Genocide: Journey Through Eastern Congo Journal compiled from the impressions and contributions of UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, John Prendergast of the International Crisis Group, and two photographers.
