Democratic Republic of the Congo gubernatorial elections, 2007
Encyclopedia
Gubernatorial elections were held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
on 27 January 2007 (with 30 January planned as a possible date for a second round, if necessary), though they were originally scheduled for 16 January and 19 January. The governors and vice-governors were be chosen through indirect election by the members of the provincial assemblies; the delay was a result of the difficulties in choosing traditional chiefs to fill the places reserved for them in the provincial
assemblies. The second round of voting would only have been necessary in those cases where no candidate had received an absolute majority in the first round, which was not the case anywhere. However, voting was rescheduled in Kasai-Occidental
and Kasai-Oriental
on 10 February to 15 February, because the Union of the Nation candidates were disqualified because they held dual citizenship.
Elections were held only for the current eleven provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
; once the reorganisation into twenty-six provinces has been passed into law in 2009, elections
will be held for the fifteen new gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial posts.
Both of the independents and the RCD governor are allied with Kabila, which means that the opposition managed to attain the post of governor in only one province.
, the pro-government independent candidate, Simon Mbatshi, won 15 votes against the opposition MLC
candidate, Fuka Unzola, who obtained 14 votes. Opposition activists held protests alleging vote-buying and chanting "Congo can't be rebuilt on corruption". Clashes between the police and Bundu dia Kongo
, an opposition secessionist religious group, lead to 134 deaths. The results were annulled on 8 February by an appeals court, but its findings were then overturned by the Constitutional Court of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
on 17 February 2007.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
on 27 January 2007 (with 30 January planned as a possible date for a second round, if necessary), though they were originally scheduled for 16 January and 19 January. The governors and vice-governors were be chosen through indirect election by the members of the provincial assemblies; the delay was a result of the difficulties in choosing traditional chiefs to fill the places reserved for them in the provincial
Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
There are currently ten provinces and one city-province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo:* An Ituri Interim Administration also exists in the Ituri region of Orientale province- Proposed provinces :...
assemblies. The second round of voting would only have been necessary in those cases where no candidate had received an absolute majority in the first round, which was not the case anywhere. However, voting was rescheduled in Kasai-Occidental
Kasai-Occidental
Kasai-Occidental is one of the ten provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It borders the provinces of Bandundu to the west, Équateur to the north, Kasai-Oriental to the east, and Katanga to the southeast. To the south it borders the country of Angola...
and Kasai-Oriental
Kasai-Oriental
Kasai-Oriental is one of the ten provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It borders the provinces of Kasai-Occidental to the west, Équateur to the northwest, Orientale to the northeast, Maniema to the east, and Katanga to the south. Kasai-Oriental is one of the richest diamond producing...
on 10 February to 15 February, because the Union of the Nation candidates were disqualified because they held dual citizenship.
Elections were held only for the current eleven provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
There are currently ten provinces and one city-province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo:* An Ituri Interim Administration also exists in the Ituri region of Orientale province- Proposed provinces :...
; once the reorganisation into twenty-six provinces has been passed into law in 2009, elections
Democratic Republic of the Congo gubernatorial elections, 2009
Gubernatorial elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were scheduled to be held in 2009, either before or after the creation of fifteen new provinces in February that year. There were delays in creating the new provinces, and the elections were cancelled....
will be held for the fifteen new gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial posts.
Governors elected
| Alliance | Party | Seats | Provinces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance of the Presidential Majority Alliance of the Presidential Majority The Alliance of the Presidential Majority is a political alliance formed by supporters of President-elect Joseph Kabila following the 2006 general elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This bloc currently holds the majority of seats in the National Assembly with 332 out of 500... (AMP) |
People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy The People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy is a center-left political party of the Democratic Republic of the Congo... (PPRD) |
7 | Bandundu Bandundu Province Bandundu is one of the ten provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It borders the provinces of Kinshasa and Bas-Congo to the west, Équateur to the north, and Kasai-Occidental to the east. The provincial capital is also called Bandundu .In 1966, Bandundu was formed by merging the three... , Kasai-Occidental Kasai-Occidental Kasai-Occidental is one of the ten provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It borders the provinces of Bandundu to the west, Équateur to the north, Kasai-Oriental to the east, and Katanga to the southeast. To the south it borders the country of Angola... , Katanga Katanga Province Katanga Province is one of the provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Between 1971 and 1997, its official name was Shaba Province. Under the new constitution, the province was to be replaced by four smaller provinces by February 2009; this did not actually take place.Katanga's regional... , Kinshasa Kinshasa Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River.... , Maniema Maniema Maniema is a province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Kindu.Following the 2005 Constitution , 25 new provinces were to be created from the 10 current provinces within 36 months . As of October 2010, this had not taken place... , Orientale Orientale, Congo Orientale is one of the ten provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The province lies in the northeast of the country. It borders Équateur province to the west, Kasai-Oriental province to the southwest, Maniema province to the south, and Nord-Kivu province to the southeast... , Sud-Kivu Sud-Kivu Sud-Kivu is a province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Bukavu.Following the 2005 Constitution , 25 new provinces were to be created from the 10 current provinces within 36 months . As of October 2010, this had not taken place... |
| Independents Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
2 | Bas-Congo Bas-Congo Bas-Congo is one of the eleven provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the only province with a coastline and it borders Bandundu province to the east and Kinshasa to the northeast... , Nord-Kivu Nord-Kivu Nord-Kivu is a province bordering Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Its capital is Goma.... |
|
| Forces for Renewal Forces for Renewal The Forces for Renewal is a political party in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The party originated as a breakaway faction of the rebel Rally for Congolese Democracy and was previously known as the RCD-Kisangani-Movement for Liberation.... (FR) |
1 | Kasai-Oriental Kasai-Oriental Kasai-Oriental is one of the ten provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It borders the provinces of Kasai-Occidental to the west, Équateur to the northwest, Orientale to the northeast, Maniema to the east, and Katanga to the south. Kasai-Oriental is one of the richest diamond producing... |
|
| Union for the Nation Union for the Nation (Democratic Republic of the Congo) The Union for the Nation is a Congolese electoral bloc formed by over 50 opposition supporters of Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was the major candidate in the 2006 presidential election and succeeding run-off against Joseph Kabila and is now a member of the Senate.... (UN) |
Movement for the Liberation of Congo Movement for the Liberation of Congo The Movement for the Liberation of the Congo is a political party in Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was a rebel group operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo that fought the government throughout the Second Congo War. It subsequently took part in the transitional government and is now... (MLC) |
1 | Équateur Équateur Équateur is one of the ten provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is in the north of the country, and bordered the Republic of the Congo to the west, the Central African Republic to the north, to the east the Orientale province, and to the south the Kasai-Oriental, Kasai-Occidental, and... |
| Total | 11 | (source1), (source2) | |
Both of the independents and the RCD governor are allied with Kabila, which means that the opposition managed to attain the post of governor in only one province.
Protests in Bas-Congo
In the province of Bas-CongoBas-Congo
Bas-Congo is one of the eleven provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the only province with a coastline and it borders Bandundu province to the east and Kinshasa to the northeast...
, the pro-government independent candidate, Simon Mbatshi, won 15 votes against the opposition MLC
Movement for the Liberation of Congo
The Movement for the Liberation of the Congo is a political party in Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was a rebel group operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo that fought the government throughout the Second Congo War. It subsequently took part in the transitional government and is now...
candidate, Fuka Unzola, who obtained 14 votes. Opposition activists held protests alleging vote-buying and chanting "Congo can't be rebuilt on corruption". Clashes between the police and Bundu dia Kongo
Bundu dia Kongo
Bundu dia Kongo is a politico-cultural movement founded in June 1969 by Ne Mwanda Nsemi. The movement is mainly based in the Bas-Congo province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The movement focuses on defending, protecting, and promoting values, rights, and interests of Kongo people in the...
, an opposition secessionist religious group, lead to 134 deaths. The results were annulled on 8 February by an appeals court, but its findings were then overturned by the Constitutional Court of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Constitutional Court of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Constitutional Court was established by the Constitution of the Third Republic on 18 February 2006. It is the highest constitutional authority in the Democratic Republic of the Congo....
on 17 February 2007.