(21 Dec 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo - 21 December 2023
1. Various of the last people voting
2. Wide elections officials talking
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Eddy Milayi, chief of polling station:
"We are going to close. We are going to go straight to the counting process to try to find out a bit about trends in our polling station."
4. Wide CENI officials preparing to start the ballot count
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Eddy Milayi, chief of polling station:
"Today, they are voting for those who did not vote yesterday. So it was beneficial for us since the residents of these areas were a bit disappointed. But with the decision of the CENI, it allowed them to participate equally, like all citizens and we are happy. As proof, everything really happened in a good atmosphere."
6. Various official tipping over ballot box and another official sorting out ballot papers
7. Various officials sorting ballot papers
STORYLINE:
The Democratic Republic of Congo was wrapping up its second day of voting Thursday after a chaotic rollout and lengthy delays forced officials to extend the balloting in the general election.
The problems with the country's elections drew criticism from some opposition candidates as concerns mounted that the logistical hurdles could affect the credibility of the results.
At stake was the future of one of Africa’s largest nations and one whose mineral resources are increasingly crucial to the global economy. Congo has a history of disputed elections that can turn violent, and there’s little confidence among many Congolese in the country’s institutions.
President Felix Tshisekedi, who is seeking his second and final five-year term, has spent much of his time in office trying to gain legitimacy after a disputed 2018 election. Some 44 million people — almost half the population — were expected to vote in this year's presidential contest and in legislative and provincial elections held simultaneously.
Tshisekedi was the likely winner of the presidential ballot, as the opposition was fractured.
Voting stations that didn’t open Wednesday allowed people to cast their ballots between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursday, according to a statement from the electoral commission. Voters are given 11 hours to vote from the time a voting station opens and many stations were expected to be open late into the night.
Polling places that completed voting began counting results late Wednesday and into the morning.
The initial results will start being announced on Friday, said Didi Manara, a high ranking official with the election commission in an interview with local radio Thursday.
AP video by Nqobile Ntshangase
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