Christian Aid has been working to support the 25 million Congolese who went to cast their first free vote in the first ever elections held since the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) gained independence in 1960.

|PIC1|The election was held on a new constitution which provides for a decentralised political system and limits the president to two five-year terms. It also guarantees that half of the seats in government will go to women.

If the constitution is met with approval by the country’s people, elections will be held before the end of June 2006 for a new president.

Christian Aid was involved with the electoral process through its partnership with EURAC, a European-based advocacy network for Central Africa, which has been monitoring the elections in five provinces, including Kinshasa. EURAC will also monitor the upcoming presidential elections.

Christian Aid is also working in partnership with several local organisations working for peace and reconciliation, including RECIC, a network for civic education.

RECIC has been playing a key role in the coordination work and monitoring of the elections, building trust with the population by organising open meetings where members of the public can question politicians.

|AD|“It is important for people to see the elections being closely monitored,” said Gerard Bisambu, RECIC executive secretary in Kinshasa. “It will give more credibility to the results, because people see them as legitimate.”

Christian Aid reported a remarkable sense of pride among the Congolese as they cast their ballots.

“For the first time in decades, everyone can openly give their opinion on the country’s politics – be it a positive or a negative one,” says Jacques Miaglia, Christian Aid’s country representative in Kinshasa.

Miaglia remained optimistic about the outcome of the vote, despite fears of international observers that a “no” result could further delay the peace process. He said, however, that whatever the outcome of the vote, the referendum is a first step towards democracy.

“I know a few people who will vote “no”, but it is more a rejection of the current "political elite" rather than of the constitution itself,” he said. “It is the first chance they’ve had in decades to express their views and they intend to use it.”

Millions of Congolese turned out for the vote in the hope that their country might finally be on the road to democracy and peace after decades of suffering.