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UN and EU Attempt to Broker Peace in Kinshasa as Election Unrest Continues

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Efforts by the United Nations and the European Union to broker a peaceful resolution to the ongoing election unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, Kinshasa, were underway as international observers expressed fears of not being able to monitor the upcoming run-off election. The UN has deployed over 17,000 peacekeepers, and the EU has sent an additional 200 troops, bringing the total to 1,200 EU troops on the ground.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential election, held on July 30, was declared inconclusive, prompting a run-off election between Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba scheduled for October 29.
  • The country has experienced a deep geographical split, with the east voting overwhelmingly for Kabila, who polled over 85% in North and South Kivu and Ituri, regions severely affected by a decade of civil and regional war.
  • Kabila's rivals in the east, Azarias Ruberwa and Jean-Pierre Bemba, who were part of the Rwandan and Ugandan backed rebel groups, respectively, polled in single digits in the east.
  • Kabila is deeply unpopular in Kinshasa and other parts of the west, where he is seen as not being truly Congolese, and does not speak Lingala, the main language in the west.
  • Antoine Gizenga, a veteran politician in his eighties, came third with 13% of the vote, while Francois Joseph Mobutu Nzanga Ngangawe, son of the former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, won 5% of the vote.
  • Oscar Kashala, a Harvard-educated cancer specialist who has lived in the United States for over 20 years, came a creditable fifth with 4% of the vote.
  • The elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo have cost the international community over $400m to administer.
  • The UN hopes that a peaceful outcome will end the violence and war-related diseases that have claimed over four million lives and continue to kill 1,200 people each day.

Statistics:

  • Over 17,000 UN peacekeepers have been deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • The EU has sent an additional 200 troops, bringing the total to 1,200 EU troops on the ground.
  • The EU has also deployed three helicopters and 60 French, Portuguese, and Swedish special forces troops overnight.
  • The presidential election on July 30 was declared inconclusive, and a run-off election is scheduled for October 29.
  • 45% of voters supported Joseph Kabila, while 20% voted for Jean-Pierre Bemba.
  • Antoine Gizenga came third with 13% of the vote, while Francois Joseph Mobutu Nzanga Ngangawe won 5% of the vote.
  • Oscar Kashala came a creditable fifth with 4% of the vote.
  • The elections have cost the international community over $400m to administer.
  • War-related diseases have claimed over four million lives and continue to kill 1,200 people each day.

Sources:

  • The Times
  • William Swing, the UN's most senior official in Congo
  • Reuters
  • CNN
  • The Economist

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