Nervous man waiting in Kinshasa on the provisional results of the election. The fear of unrest in the Congo – others long for them. Meanwhile, the government has cut the Internet. From Kinshasa Jonas Gerding.
When it comes down to it, you want to mobilize: Patrick Kanyinda (right) and other activists are ready
Again and again, Jacqui is Ekodi this sentence to fall, the sounds like a warning: “don’t run!”, she scolds. It is aimed at the ruling class to the President, Joseph Kabila, left last Sunday, after two years of delay, finally holding elections. Kabila himself no longer occurred after 17 years in Power. He called on the Congolese people to vote for his former interior Minister, Emmanuel ramazani was the photographer Shadary.
“We don’t want you to declare your President, the will not run”, says the 40-year-old Ekodi combative. “Because even we, the Mamas, ask us about it.” Too many problems would afflict women such as you, a mother of six children, sold on the streets of Kinshasa Central market in Second-Hand clothes.
“Come Shadary, burn it all down”
Of course Shadary also has many supporters in the Central African country. You can, however, be less in those environments that might shape it in the coming days, the image of the Congo in the Public. Especially among the poorer and younger segments of the population, it could lead to protests, if on this Sunday the provisional results for the presidential election will be announced. The mood among them is irritated. The tension could erupt at any time, should there be no candidate from the Opposition.
Jacqui Ekodi has difficulties to sell their Second-Hand clothes
Already at the entrance to the largest market in the Congolese capital, dealer and customer to discuss loudly about politics. “Come Shadary, we burn everything,” says one of them. It is already later in the afternoon. Because of the darkness, the thieves are the most already in the process of their stalls to clear, where they sell everything Imaginable, from clothes to electronics to kitchen accessories. Also Ekodi has stowed the bags with used clothes already – and attracts a grim balance sheet of the last days: “Last new year, we have made a good deal, but this year we have nothing to sell, the market is empty, as you can see today,” she says. “We have the election behind us, but nothing goes as usual.”
Nothing runs without Internet
This is in particular also on the most recent repressive measure of the government. As a first choice began to circulate results in social media, issued a Directive to telecommunications providers: Until further notice, this would have set the SMS and Internet services. “We are blocked to one hundred percent,” says the 32-year-old Christian Puaty that sold a few streets further on glasses or it at least tries to. “There is not even the possibility to carry out transactions,” he complains about the Internet lock. Glasses and frames, he often sold over the Internet: “customers call me and ask me to send a photo, but there is no Facebook and no Whatsapp, how to send?”
Shadary, Christian Puaty want to go on the road
For years, the trained optician longs for a regular job. “We are suffering morally and economically. Therefore, we want change,” he says. But what if there is no candidate of the Opposition? “The result should be negative, I advise to read to all the boys of the Congo, to the streets to claim our rights.” Puaty is convinced to lift Shadary into office, would have to manipulate the government, the election results are solid.
Electoral Commission insists on a monopoly
Even though many expect that he will be declared the winner. Maybe not on Sunday, because so far, according to the statements of the election Commission CENI, only 20 percent of the vote. Yet there is no evidence for Shadarys victory. And to continue in the future, calls for at least the CENI. In a short press conference that was convened on Thursday afternoon, the President Corneille Nangaa dismissed the election observers in their place: “they come, observe and report. But it is not their task to announce the results. Some are going to exceed your skills.”
Here, the decision on the future of the Congo: Congo’s electoral Commission in Kinshasa
The date was exactly one hour before the publication of the election report by the CENCO – an appointment that was expected with voltage. The Catholic bishops ‘ conference is the political representation of the Catholic Church in the Congo, what she says has weight. Already on the day of the election the head of state, Kabila had instructed him personally not to publish the results, explains CENCO Secretary General Donatien Nshole Abbot at his press conference on the question of political pressure on the Church Institution.
The evidence of the bishops
It is a balancing act, the CENCO is trying to this day: on the one Hand, you want to show in a 15-minute presentation that she has enough Material for serious high bills. Alone on the day of the ballot, the 40,000 election observers were travelling all over the country.
On the other hand, you have to infringements on the many rule and inconsistencies point out, the concern and sometimes the limitation is your own work. To be choice in the beginning not everywhere, but only in 87 percent of polling stations, observers, witnesses, and journalists have been present. At the end of Hand-counted votes were mostly identical with the results of the newly used electronic voting machine. In a not inconsiderable seven percent of the cases there had been, however, differences.
No name: Abt Donatien Nshole presents the results of the bishops ‘ conference
Most of the conclusions on non-free and unfair elections moved the CENCO however, the chaotic organization of the election day itself. For example, polling stations that opened late. “These violations did not prevent the Congolese people have taken to the polls with a clear choice,” says the Abbot Donatien Nshole. So someone who knows the outcome of the elections and the CENI under pressure could put sounds. The Catholic Church would disagree with, finally, the official result of the election authority, it would be a scandal, with perhaps serious consequences for the fragile stability of the country.
“No fear of death”
However, it is not alone the date of CENCO, which will count, says Patrick Kanyinda (on the right in the picture above). The 25-Year-old is studying civil engineering at the University of Kinshasa, a sprawling Area in the East of the town of about 20,000 students. “If the voice of the people is stolen, the students are the first to go on the road, that’s for sure,” he says. “We will not wait for the instructions of others.”
It’s the holidays and it is quiet as usual on the Campus. However, at the weekend, the students will return. Kanyinda self remained. As well as one of his fellow students who accompanied him to the meeting at the Amphitheater of the University. Both of you are activists, well-dressed and eloquent. Kanyinda coordinated Lucov, one of the many youth movements of the country, which had demonstrated to massively for the resignation Kabila and fair elections. Be ready for the resistance, even if the security forces as in the past, would fire tear gas and live ammunition on you. “We have no fear,” he says. “Neither before the death, before the capture. If you honor us in this Time of political change, it is sufficient for us.”
You can also read the DW Interview with Joseph Kabila-shortly before the election.
The Congo is about to experience the first democratic change of power. How peaceful it will be, it will show now. The scenario could not be more different: street battles or joy? What Name is finally announced, will be crucial. “We will go with great joy on the streets,” says Kanyinda for the case that a candidate from the Opposition should make it. “We will celebrate it as a victory, if the decision is to be respected at the ballot box.”