Situation Report: The Democratic Republic of the Congo: Elections and Beyond, MJ de Goede

With the finalisation of the electoral process, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) hopes to open a new chapter of peace, stability and democratisation. After three years of post-war transition, the parliamentary and first round of presidential elections of 30 July and the provincial and second round of presidential elections of 29 October, the war and the post-war transition process are finally and officially ended. On 6 December 2006 Joseph Kabila was inaugurated as the first elected President of the DRC. This is a historical event in the sense that it has resulted in a new political dispensation and a democratically elected government for the first time in more than forty years. But more than an end to the phase of transition, the elections mark the beginning of a new phase of post-conflict peace building, reconstruction, development and democratisation. Expectations are high; the challenges are enormous.