DRC: Tension rises as electoral body delays voting in 3 cities

There is palpable tension in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the electoral commission has delayed voting until March 2019 in three cities over Ebola outbreak and ethnic violence.

Reports say as millions went to the polls to elect a new president, an armed militia overran several polling stations in eastern DRC.

A local government official told Al Jazeera that Maimai fighters attacked voting stations in six townships in Lubero town in North Kivu province forcing voters to cast their ballot for a candidate of their choice.

Read also: US Senate hands Trump rare double rebuke over war in Yemen, murder of Khashoggi

Reports say as many as 21 candidates are competing to succeed President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled the central African country for 17 years.

Voting commenced after opposition had accused authorities of trying to rig the vote in favour of Kabila’s preferred candidate.

The opposition also went ahead to claim that the government is plan to use electronic voting machines to rig the election for Kabila’s anointed candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now