2011 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election explained

Election Name:2011 DR Congo general election
Country:Democratic Republic of the Congo
Previous Election:2006 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election
Previous Year:2006
Next Election:2018 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election
Next Year:2018
Election Date:28 November 2011
Module:
Embed:yes
Election Name:Presidential election
Type:presidential
Turnout:59.05%
Image1:Joseph Kabila April 2016.jpg
Nominee1:Joseph Kabila
Party1:Independent politician
Popular Vote1:8,880,944
Percentage1:48.95%
Color1:FFCC33
Nominee2:Étienne Tshisekedi
Party2:Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Popular Vote2:5,864,775
Percentage2:32.33%
President
Before Election:Joseph Kabila
Before Party:Independent politician
After Election:Joseph Kabila
After Party:Independent politician

General elections were held in Democratic Republic of the Congo on 28 November 2011; a facultative run-off on 26 February 2012 was shelved with a change in election laws.[1] [2]

The government passed laws to abolish the second round of the presidential election and tried to change the legislative electoral system from proportional to majority representation, which was strongly criticized by the opposition.[3] [4]

International organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union raised concerns about the transparency of the elections.[5] [6]

On 8 November 2011 opposition leader Étienne Tshisekedi declared himself president saying the majority of people turned against President Kabila.[7]

On 28 November 2011 the elections were held under difficult conditions. Voting was characterized by incidents of violence throughout the country.[8] Because of violence and delays in the delivery of ballot boxes elections were extended by a second day.[9]

Candidates

  1. Jean Andeka (ANCC)
  2. Adam Bombolé (independent)
  3. Joseph Kabila (independent)
  4. François Nicéphore Kakese (URDC)
  5. Vital Kamerhe (UNC)
  6. Oscar Kashala (UREC)
  7. Léon Kengo (UFC)
  8. Antipas Mbusa (independent)
  9. Nzanga Mobutu (Udemo)
  10. Josué Alex Mukendi (independent)
  11. Étienne Tshisekedi (UDPS)

Registration

DR Congo's National Independent Electoral Commission has registered 32 million voters for the November elections.

ProvinceRegistered voters
Kinshasa3,287,745
Bas-Congo1,502,939
Bandundu3,553,322
Equateur3,960,643
Orientale3,886,524
North Kivu3,003,246
South Kivu2,022,960
Maniema874,809
Katanga4,627,302
Kasai Oriental2,643,905
Kasai Occidental2,661,245
Total32,024,640

Results

President

The first results released on 2 December 2011, with 15% of the vote counted (mostly in areas considered Kabila strongholds), gave Kabila only a narrow lead of 940,000 votes against 912,000 votes for UPDS leader Tshisekedi.[10]

With half the precincts counted, Kabila was leading with 4.9 million votes, or nearly 49%. His opponent Etienne Tshisekedi was trailing with 3.4 million votes, about 34%.[11] However, this count did not include much of Kinshasa, where Tshisekedi was expected to have strong results. Kabila ceased all email and SMS services nationwide. It has been also said that over 5,000,000 of ballot papers were pre-ticked for the number 3 candidate (Kabila), but no formal actions were taken by the CENI. Some witnesses said that young men had beaten election officials who tried to bring in fraudulent ballots, which were subsequently burned.[12]

The announcement of final results was postponed to 8 December 2011; with over two thirds of the vote counted, Kabila led with 46% to Tshisekedi's 36%.[13]

The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Kabila as the winner on December 9. The result was put into question by the Carter Center as well as the archbishop of Kinshasa, Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, claiming too many irregularities occurred to assure that the results reflected the will of the people.[14] The Carter Center indicated that ballots had been missing in some areas while in others Kabila achieved unrealistic results.[14] Observers from the Carter Center noted that in some districts voter turnout was reported to be 100 percent, which is extremely unlikely.[15] MONUSCO, the peacekeeping mission of the United Nations, also voiced concern about the results.[15]

While Kabila admitted that some mistakes had been made in the process, he rejected concerns about the outcome. The result was confirmed by the Supreme Court of the Democratic Republic of Congo.[16]

Jerome Kitoko, President of the Supreme Court, announcing the official results proclaimed Kabila to be the winner of the presidential election.[16] [17]

National Assembly

Aftermath

The rebels in the 2012 East D.R. Congo conflict said Kabila was not the legal winner of the election and must resign.

Notes and References

  1. News: Congo Electoral Commission Says Presidential Elections to Be Held Nov. 28 . Bloomberg . Michael J. . Kavanagh . 2011-04-30.
  2. Web site: DR Congo to hold presidential elections on Nov. 27, 2011 - People's Daily Online. 2021-07-27. en.people.cn. 2012-10-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20121014224048/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90855/7099927.html. dead.
  3. News: DR Congo opposition anger over electoral changes . BBC News . 2011-01-10.
  4. Web site: DR Congo's Electoral Law for 2011: Choosing Continuity - International Crisis Group . 2012-03-06 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120306111230/http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/africa/central-africa/dr-congo/drc-electoral-law-for-2011-choosing-continuity.aspx . 2012-03-06 .
  5. Web site: The Critical Role of Observers . freefairdrc.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111116230433/http://freefairdrc.com/en/about/role-of-observers . 2011-11-16.
  6. Web site: Congo: The Electoral Process Seen from the East - International Crisis Group . 2011-09-26 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110927034842/http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/africa/central-africa/dr-congo/B80-congo-the-electoral-process-seen-from-the-east.aspx . 2011-09-27 .
  7. News: 2011-11-08. Congolese candidate Tshisekedi declares himself president. Christian Science Monitor. 2021-07-27. 0882-7729.
  8. Web site: Voting chaos and pockets of violence mar DRC elections. 28 November 2011.
  9. News: Congo Elections 2011: Vote Extended To Second Day . Rukmini Callimachi. Huffington Post. 2011-11-29. 2011-11-29.
  10. News: DR Congo election: Kabila guards 'shot UDPS supporters' . BBC News . 2011-12-02.
  11. https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/1779206 Dread permeates Congo ahead of election results
  12. News: Gettleman . Jeffrey . In Whirlwind of an Election in Congo, Votes May Become Victims, Too . March 29, 2021 . The New York Times . November 29, 2011.
  13. News: DR Congo election results delayed by 48 hours . BBC News . 2011-12-07.
  14. News: Congo President Kabila Denies Reports of Election Fraud. Adam Nossiter . The New York Times. December 12, 2011. December 12, 2011.
  15. News: Criticism grows over Congo election results. https://web.archive.org/web/20111214173108/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/congos-incumbent-president-denies-allegations-of-election-fraud-in-1st-postelection-comments/2011/12/12/gIQAiiUSpO_story.html. dead. 2011-12-14. Associated Press. The Washington Post. 2011-12-12. 2011-12-16.
  16. News: DR Congo election: Joseph Kabila confirmed as winner. BBC News Africa. 2012-12-16. 2012-12-16.
  17. News: Supreme Court Rules Joseph Kabila Won Presidential Election. Congo News Agency. Congo Planet. 2011-12-16. 2011-12-17.