Jiro Ose

Congo: Historic Election

Millions from across the vast Central African Country, spanning an area the size of Western Europe, cast ballots for the first time in their lives on July 30, 2006, saying it was their only hope to finally end fighting and more than 40 years of civil war and dictatorship. Kabila, 35, and the outgoing president of transition faced Jean Pierre Bemba, the only strong rival for the presidency and a wealthy former rebel leader who became vice president during the tree year transition period that followed the official end to the war in 2003. Kabila could not secure the majority and the run-off against Jean Pierre Bemba was held in late October.

Campaign posters of candidates for presidential and national elections occupy every inch of the wall in Kinshasa. There are 32 presidential candidates and over 950 legislative candidates. The war-torn Central African republic last had the election 46 years ago, soon after they gain their independence from Belgium.
   
Joseph Kabila greets his supporters at Bunia airport during his campaign trip. He has strong support in eastern part of country whereas his opponent Jean Pierre Bemba has strong support in west, polarizing the nation.
  
Supporters of Joseph Kabila try to get closer look during his visit in Bunia, regional capital of Ituri.
     
  
Supporters of Joseph Kabila show their suppor during his visit in Bunia in July 2006.
  
Supporters of Joseph Kabila try to get closer look during his visit in Bunia.
   
Well-protected by his bodyguards, Jean Pierre Bemba, current vice president, former warlord, and presidential candidate, appeals to the crowd in Bunia.
     
  
Supporters gather to have a look of one of presidential candidate, Jean Pierre Bemba, during a rally in Bunia.
  
The country’s long-time political opposition, Etienne Tshisekedi’s Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), boycotted the voting, unhappy with the other main parties’ unwillingness to negotiate with it, caused unrests in the Kasai provinces and the capital Kinshasa, Where Tshisekedi enjoys substantial support.
  
Riot police advance to UDPS protesters in Kinshasa. Above them are campaign posters. There were 32 presidential candidates and over 950 legislative candidates.
     
  
UDPS opposition supporters picks up an unexploded Molotov cocktail for the 2nd throw at riot police in Kinshasa.
   
Riot police charge to the protesters past the Molotov cocktail thrown by UDPS protesters in Kinshasa.
  
Supporter of UDPS, opposition party which boycotted the election, burns campaign posters of candidates on the streets of Kinshasa.
     
  
Supporters of UDPS, opposition party, mock Joseph Kabila during their street rally in Kinshasa in July 2006.
   
Riot police advance to UDPS protesters in Kinshasa.
  
A woman is being arrested by the riot police during the protest by UDPS, opposition party in Kinshasa.
     
  
Protesters from opposition group UDPS which boycotted the election throw rocks to the riot police on a street of Kinshasa.
  
A protester from UDPS is being arrested by the riot police in Kinshasa.
  
A shopkeeper gets a dose of tear gas, being caught between UDPS supporters and riot police in Kinshasa.
     
  
Tear gas fills the streets of Kinshasa during the protest by UDPS opposition supporters.
   
An old man cycles pass the riot police during the protest by UDPS in Kinshasa.
   
Election workers put up the sings at a polling station before it opens in Kinshasa. Voting took place without major violence as it was feared.
     
  
Congolese patiently wait for the polling station to open at sunrise in Kinshasa.
  
Grasping his voter registration card, Congolese man waits in line to cast his vote outside polling station in Kinshasa. For many Congolese, the voter registration card became their first piece of identification.
   
Congolese man looks for his name on the registered voters' list at a polling station in Kinshasa.
     
  
UN peacekeepers from Uruguay patrol the streets of Kinshasa on the day of the election.
  
Congolese woman casts her vote in Kinshasa. Last time she was able to cast a vote was 46 years ago, soon after the independence from Belgium.
   
Congolese woman casts her vote for the first time in her life as her baby witness the historic occasion in Kinshasa.
     
  
Joseph Kabila, current interim president and front runner for the presidential election, casts his vote in Kinshasa.
  
Jean Pierre Bemba, current vice president, former warlord, and presidential candidate casts his vote.
  
A Congolese election worker explains very long and complicated ballot papers to voters in Kinshasa. There are 32 presidential candidates and over 950 legislative candidates.
     
  
A Congolese election worker explains very long and complicated ballot papers to voters in Kinshasa. There are 32 presidential candidates and over 950 legislative candidates.
  
A ballot box is simply too small for 6-page-long ballot papers for parliament members.
  
Congolese man studies 6-page-long ballot paper for legislative candidates at a polling station in Kinshasa.
     
  
Votes for the run-off between Kabila and Bemba have cast. Now Congolese wait for the official announcement of the winner. Crowd gather to listen to Joseph Kabila, presidential candidate in Bunia.