Organisers pushed ahead with the presidential and parliamentary elections in the vast Central African nation on Monday despite fears that logistical delays and complaints over the process would set the scene for a bitterly contested result.
Mounoubai Madnodje, spokesman for the U.N. mission in Congo known as MONUSCO, said the United Nations was still delivering electoral materials on Tuesday to some areas which have yet to vote, including the central province of Bandundu.
“We’ve offered our helicopters to transport materials, so yes, we’re still continuing to help,” Madnodje said, adding the security situation across the country was generally calm.
President Joseph Kabila faced ten rivals, including veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi. About 18,500 people are also running for 500 seats in parliament.
The election commission said the ballot was “satisfactory”. Voting in some areas carried on into the night, while others were asked to be patient and mark their ballot on Tuesday after some ballot papers did not arrive on time.
Across the nation, voters complained that confusion over voter lists made it difficult for many to know where to vote. Tensions flared and violence was reported at many polling stations during voting, over allegations of fraud.
“Here in Kinshasa we don’t have any confidence in the process but in this polling station we have worked hard (to stop fraud),” said Henriette Kilonda, an election official at the Ecole de la Gare voting centre in Gombe, central Kinshasa.