A girl appears for her title at a voting station in Goma, japanese Democratic Republic of the Congo, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023.

Moses Sawasawa/AP

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Moses Sawasawa/AP

A girl appears for her title at a voting station in Goma, japanese Democratic Republic of the Congo, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023.

Moses Sawasawa/AP

KINSHASA, Congo — Congo headed to the polls Wednesday to vote for president as authorities scrambled to finalize preparations in an election dealing with steep logistical and safety challenges, and voting beginning practically 2 1/2 hours late.

Some 44 million folks — virtually half the inhabitants — had been anticipated to vote, however many, together with a number of million displaced by battle within the huge nation’s east, may battle to solid their ballots. The preventing has prevented 1.5 million folks from registering to vote.

Voter Raymond Yuma within the capital of Kinshasa mentioned he is voting for hope. “When you wake up in the morning you’re hoping for good things, good work, and I want security,” mentioned Yuma. He sat beside three different folks on a bench ready in line for the doorways to open. None of their voting playing cards had been legible.

In japanese Congo, folks mentioned they weren’t discovering their names on voting lists.

“The voters displayed on lists at the polling station are fewer than those who are lining up. I can’t find my name on the list and this could cause scuffles here because I also want to vote,” mentioned Jules Kambale at a polling station in Goma.

Waiting for polls to open through the greater than two-hour delay, folks grew agitated and commenced arguing, significantly within the capital.

Both outdoors observers and locals have warned of challenges that might have an effect on the credibility of the vote in one among Africa’s largest nations and one whose mineral sources are more and more essential to the worldwide financial system.

On the eve of the vote, some polling stations in Kinshasa advised Associated Press journalists they had been nonetheless ready for supplies. Thousands of stations, significantly in distant areas, may nonetheless not have what they want on Wednesday.

A serious concern is that ink on voting playing cards has smudged, making many illegible. That means folks could possibly be turned away from polling stations. In addition, the voter registration record hasn’t been correctly audited.

People search for their names outdoors a polling station in Goma, japanese Democratic Republic of the Congo, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023.

Moses Sawasawa/AP

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Moses Sawasawa/AP

People search for their names outdoors a polling station in Goma, japanese Democratic Republic of the Congo, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023.

Moses Sawasawa/AP

“The organization of the elections raises lots of doubt regarding the credibility, the transparency and the reliability of the results,” mentioned Bienvenu Matumo, a member of LUCHA, an area rights group.

A candidate wants a majority of votes within the first spherical to win.

President Felix Tshisekedi seeks his second and closing five-year time period, working towards about 20 different candidates. His essential rival seemed to be Moise Katumbi, the previous governor of Katanga province and a millionaire businessperson whose marketing campaign in 2018 was thwarted by the earlier regime of former President Joseph Kabila.

But the opposition stays fractured, making Tshisekedi the possible favourite.

The son of a late, fashionable opposition determine, he has spent a lot of his presidency attempting to consolidate energy over state establishments and dealing to beat a disaster of legitimacy after a contested election 5 years in the past.

Some voters did not need to disclose who they had been backing, however Kinshasa is a Tshisekedi stronghold.

“He’s someone who’s done a lot of things for the country … he’s fought for democracy,” mentioned enterprise proprietor Joseph Tshibadi. Even although Tshisekedi hasn’t succeeded in quelling violence within the east, Tshibadi is prepared to provide him extra time.

“The beginning is always hard,” he mentioned.

After ready for practically three and a half hours, Tshibadi was the primary particular person to vote at a college within the capital. He mentioned voting was simple, and he voted for Tshisekedi as a result of he needs to provide him one other 5 years to try to enhance the safety scenario.

“I feel very happy, because I voted for my candidate, and I think he’s going to win with 90%,” he mentioned.

The election fee says it has made modifications within the course of to make it extra credible, spending greater than $1 billion on the vote since planning started two years in the past. A key change from 2018 is that outcomes from every of the 75,000 voting stations might be launched one by one, somewhat than being introduced in bulk.

But given the logistical challenges, locals and analysts mentioned the vote possible might be prolonged previous Wednesday.

The outcomes that ought to decide the winner ought to be the guide ones somewhat than the digital depend, mentioned Rev. Eric Nsenga, a coordinator for the joint electoral commentary mission between the Church of Christ for Congo and the Congolese National Episcopal Conference. He additionally warned towards publicly releasing partial outcomes as they’re compiled in case it inflames tensions.

Already, some observers have alleged that the method has been removed from clear.

On Monday, the East African Community mentioned its election observer mission was not granted entry to Congo by authorities. Last month, the European Union canceled its commentary mission after Congolese authorities didn’t authorize using satellite tv for pc tools for its deployment.

The vote is going down as violence surges in japanese Congo, the place greater than 120 armed teams are preventing for energy and sources or to guard their communities. They embody the resurgence of M23 rebels, allegedly backed by neighboring Rwanda, which denies it.