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    December 12, 2011

Kabila: Re-Election Credible

   VOA News
   Photo: AP
   Congolese president Joseph Kabila casts his ballot in the country's
   presidential election at a polling station in Kinshasa, Democratic
   Republic of Congo, November 28, 2011.

   Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila says there is no
   doubting the credibility of his re-election.
   During a news conference in Kinshasa Monday, Kabila acknowledged that
   mistakes were made during last month's polls, but he rejected the
   conclusion of the Carter Center that the vote had been "mismanaged" and
   lacked credibility.
   The U.S.-based election monitor said that polling stations in Kabila
   strongholds reported "impossibly" high turnouts, and that many ballots
   in his rival's strongholds were reported lost.
   A prominent Roman Catholic leader in Congo questioned the outcome
   Monday. Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo told VOA French-to-Africa Service
   that the results do not comply with truth or justice.
   Congo's electoral commission declared Kabila the winner of the poll on
   Friday. Shortly after, challenger Etienne Tshisekedi rejected the
   results and declared himself president.
   President Kabila on Monday denied there was a crisis in Congo and urged
   Tshisekedi to "make good use of the justice system" if he disagrees
   with the election result.
   Violent protests and looting left four people dead in Kinshasa
   following the announcement of the election results, but a heavy
   mobilization of police and security personnel has since restored a
   tense calm to the city.
   Tshisekedi has called on supporters to remain calm and await further
   instructions. He has also expressed hope the international community
   will help mediate the dispute.
   The presidential and legislative polls two weeks ago were only the
   second free elections since the African nation was torn apart by
   several years of warfare that ended in 2003.

   Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

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