IRC Concerned about Election-related Violence in Congo

A recent increase in violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo is being monitored with concern by the International Rescue Committee. Sixteen people died during fierce street clashes that broke out on Sunday in the capital Kinshasa between groups loyal to President Joseph Kabila and his main election rival, Jean-Pierre Bemba, and the death toll is expected to rise. A ceasefire brought an end to the violence on Tuesday.

“The IRC welcomes the end to hostilities but is closely monitoring the situation,” said Alyoscia D’Onofrio, the IRC’s Congo country director. “The country is at a critical juncture on the road to peace and stability, and the population just wants to get on with their lives. There are massive expectations attached to these elections, the first free multi-party elections since 1960, and it is tremendously important that they be allowed to run their course.”

D’Onofrio said that the IRC’s programs were running normally and that while the staff was safe they were keeping their movements to a minimum in Kinshasa.

President Kabila led the first round of balloting on July 30 but fell short of 50 percent of the vote, prompting a run-off election with Bemba, scheduled now for late October.