Violence casts shadow over Congo poll

KINSHASA – Clashes between supporters of the two candidates have raised tensions ahead of Congo’s election on Sunday, greatly reducing campaigning and underlining the dangerous role of well-armed private armies.

The run-off vote between President Joseph Kabila and Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba is meant to be the final step in a drawn-out peace process to end Democratic Republic of Congo’s 1998-2003 war, which killed more than 4 million people. But days before the run-off, neither candidate has ventured out of the capital, leaving campaigning to their lieutenants.Several rallies across the vast country have been marred by clashes between their supporters.Kabila failed to get a winning majority in the first round on July 30, necessitating the run-off with second-placed Bemba.That outcome sparked pitched battles in August between Kabila’s personal guard, using tanks and rocket-propelled grenades, and Bemba’s red bandana-clad fighters on the streets of Kinshasa.”I don’t want to take any further risks,” Bemba told reporters when asked why he was not actively campaigning.Kabila’s camp, which was largely blamed for the August fighting in which several Bemba houses and offices were attacked, also cited security fears.”There are people with weapons everywhere.It’s a threat,” a Kabila aide told Reuters.”The security issue is a problem.What happened in August is a threat to both candidates’ security so this is why they are not campaigning.”Nampa-ReutersBut days before the run-off, neither candidate has ventured out of the capital, leaving campaigning to their lieutenants.Several rallies across the vast country have been marred by clashes between their supporters.Kabila failed to get a winning majority in the first round on July 30, necessitating the run-off with second-placed Bemba.That outcome sparked pitched battles in August between Kabila’s personal guard, using tanks and rocket-propelled grenades, and Bemba’s red bandana-clad fighters on the streets of Kinshasa.”I don’t want to take any further risks,” Bemba told reporters when asked why he was not actively campaigning.Kabila’s camp, which was largely blamed for the August fighting in which several Bemba houses and offices were attacked, also cited security fears.”There are people with weapons everywhere.It’s a threat,” a Kabila aide told Reuters.”The security issue is a problem.What happened in August is a threat to both candidates’ security so this is why they are not campaigning.”Nampa-Reuters