NationStates Jolt Archive

This is the first real (real as in multiparty) election the DRC has held in at least 45 years. These people have gone through unbelievable hardships: war, predatory dictatorship, more war, economic ruin, and much worse. Few people have suffered as badly as these innocent and peace-loving people have. According to the BBC, 600 children a day die in the DRC. The Second Congo War has taken between 3 and 5 million lives, making it the deadliest conflict since World War II. Will this election be a turning point? Will the country finally rise from the ashes, tap into its potential, and become a model not only for Africa, but the rest of the world? My heart and prayers go out to the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo today. May their future be much better than their past.

Hopefully this works out for them and doesn't turn out to be corrupt like so many other things have been in that country.. Would be a big step forward if it all goes smoothly and there are no problems.

Good luck to them. I don't imagine having elected officials will make things much better, but hopefully I'm wrong.

Hopefully, an elected and democratic government will help the people form a government that can help the people harness their nations' fantastic natural resources and bring prosperity.

Whether this election works, however, is dependant on what the losers do, not the winners.

Debout Congolais, Unis par le sort. Unis dans l'effort pour l'indépendance

Locals have said in interviews that the election is rigged already.

Plus, it's a jungle country subject to half a dozen external interventions, where precious stones and minerals are mined using slave labour.

Credibility, zero.

This election is like a sandcastle on a beach, to swept away with the next wave, leaving behind only a memory.