Elections in DR Congo – people need our prayers

pray that excessive force is not used


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Published: 24 November 2011

When Bishop Isesomo was in Manchester early this year he spoke at some length about the last (2006) democratic elections and the allegations of vote rigging. Violence was widespread and he feared repetition this time. So our prayers for the country and especially for the members in our link diocese of Nord Kivu are so important.

DR Congo polls at a glance • More than 30 million voters
• 11 presidential candidates
• Nearly 19,000 parliamentary candidates
• 500 parliamentary seats
• 4,000 tonnes of ballot papers

Recent clashes between the police and opposition - which left seven people dead in the capital, Kinshasa - showed the alarming potential for destabilisation. Five aid workers were killed in October - the deadliest attack of its kind in DR Congo's history.
The elections are likely to be fiercely contested between the main opposition leader, Etienne Tshisekedi, who is standing for the first time, and President Kabila who has held office since 2001. The presidential elections in 2006 were the first democratic polls in DR Congo for four decades but attracted huge criticisms of rigging.

God of peace, give a sense of hope to your peoples living in DR Congo.
May they strengthen each other, through circumstances we cannot begin to imagine.
Encourage those working for peace and reconciliation.
Guide their leades with your wisdom and give them humility to serve their people,
ruling in fairness and peace, not oppression and violence.
Throughout this difficult period may they know the love of Christ.
Amen. 
 


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