Elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Encyclopedia
Multi-party elections in the DR Congo were held in July 2006, the first multi-party elections in the country since 1960.
The 1960 elections
, held in the wake of independence
, saw Patrice Lumumba
become prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu president. In 1965 Mobutu Sese Seko
seized power and declared himself president. He ruled until 1997 when Laurent Kabila
seized power after the First Congo War
. When Laurent Kabila was killed in 2001, his son Joseph Kabila
took over the presidency while the country was going through the Second Congo War
(1998-2003). The Second Congo War was officially declared over in 2003. The period that followed was relatively peaceful, with the United Nations
' largest peacekeeping force
maintaining the peace. However, the Ituri Conflict
marred the peace, with periods of violence in the northeastern Ituri Province.
In December 2005 a referendum on a new constitution was held. It was approved, paving way for the first multiparty elections in 46 years, which were held in July 2006.
A run-off election was held on 29 October to choose the president as no candidate had obtained more than 50% of the vote. Joseph Kabila was elected in the second round with 58% of the vote.
The international community donated $460 million to fund the elections and deployed the world's largest UN peacekeeping operation to help the stability of the election.
that killed more than five million people. Violence marred the run-up to the 2011 Presidential election, leaving at least 5 dead after armed men attacked polling stations and a truck carrying ballots. The election was also plagued by voting difficulties as some voting materials arrived late, or not at all. The presidential election involves 11 candidates, although incumbent President Joseph Kabila is expected to win again.
transition; Last update August 1, 2006
The 1960 elections
Belgian Congo general election, 1960
General elections were held in the Belgian Congo on 22 May 1960, in order to create a government to rule the country following independence, scheduled for 30 June. The 137-seat Chamber of Representatives was elected by men over the age of 21...
, held in the wake of independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
, saw Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Émery Lumumba was a Congolese independence leader and the first legally elected Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo after he helped win its independence from Belgium in June 1960. Only ten weeks later, Lumumba's government was deposed in a coup during the Congo Crisis...
become prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu president. In 1965 Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga , commonly known as Mobutu or Mobutu Sese Seko , born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, was the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1965 to 1997...
seized power and declared himself president. He ruled until 1997 when Laurent Kabila
Laurent-Désiré Kabila
Laurent-Désiré Kabila was President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from May 17, 1997, when he overthrew Mobutu Sese Seko, until his assassination by his bodyguards on January 18, 2001...
seized power after the First Congo War
First Congo War
The First Congo War was a revolution in Zaire that replaced President Mobutu Sésé Seko, a decades-long dictator, with rebel leader Laurent-Désiré Kabila. Destabilization in eastern Zaire that resulted from the Rwandan genocide was the final factor that caused numerous internal and external actors...
. When Laurent Kabila was killed in 2001, his son Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila Kabange is a Congolese politician who has been President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January 2001. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila...
took over the presidency while the country was going through the Second Congo War
Second Congo War
The Second Congo War, also known as Coltan War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; however, hostilities continue to this...
(1998-2003). The Second Congo War was officially declared over in 2003. The period that followed was relatively peaceful, with the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
' largest peacekeeping force
United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or MONUSCO , is a United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which was established by the United Nations Security Council in resolutions 1279...
maintaining the peace. However, the Ituri Conflict
Ituri Conflict
The Ituri conflict is a conflict between the agriculturalist Lendu and pastoralist Hema ethnic groups in the Ituri region of the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo . While there have been many phases to the conflict, the most recent armed clashes ran from 1999 to 2003, with a low-level...
marred the peace, with periods of violence in the northeastern Ituri Province.
In December 2005 a referendum on a new constitution was held. It was approved, paving way for the first multiparty elections in 46 years, which were held in July 2006.
2006 General Election
A general election was held on Sunday 30 July 2006, which were the first free multi-party elections in 46 years. Voters went to the polls to elect a new President, federal parliament and provincial parliaments.A run-off election was held on 29 October to choose the president as no candidate had obtained more than 50% of the vote. Joseph Kabila was elected in the second round with 58% of the vote.
The international community donated $460 million to fund the elections and deployed the world's largest UN peacekeeping operation to help the stability of the election.
2011 Presidential election
The 2011 elections marked the second vote the country held since the Kivu ConflictKivu conflict
The Kivu conflict is an armed conflict between the military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Hutu Power group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda . The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo also became involved in the conflict...
that killed more than five million people. Violence marred the run-up to the 2011 Presidential election, leaving at least 5 dead after armed men attacked polling stations and a truck carrying ballots. The election was also plagued by voting difficulties as some voting materials arrived late, or not at all. The presidential election involves 11 candidates, although incumbent President Joseph Kabila is expected to win again.
External links
- Electionworld
- Adam Carr's Election Archive
- African Elections Database
- Looking at the Congo's Historic Moment An index of resources from the Woodrow Wilson Center on the DRC's democratic
- http://politicsinspires.org/2011/11/how-are-election-preparations-unfolding-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-drc-hope-or-failure-two-perspectives A local and an international perspectives on the 2011 elections on 28 November 2011
transition; Last update August 1, 2006