Congo’s crucial election may be heading for disaster

The risk of fraud, or a delay, is high

A woman walks under election campaign posters in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo. — At least the posters don’t smudgePhotograph: Getty Images

Dec 14th 2023|KINSHASA

Finding examples of government success in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is not easy. The campaign team of Félix Tshisekedi, who is running to be re-elected president in a vote scheduled for December 20th, set itself the task of showing reporters something impressive near Lubumbashi, Congo’s second-biggest city. The journalist-jammed bus made wrong turns, repeatedly asked villagers for directions and twice nearly became mired in mud. Eventually it found a few half-built classrooms and an unfinished clinic. Yet locals are delighted. Mr Tshisekedi “does beautiful things!” beams Nadia, a young mother. After years of neglect by politicians some Congolese are understandably pleased with any sign of progress.

This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Cobalt and chaos”