Main Candidates for Presidency in Democratic Republic of Congo

Jul 21, 2006

The people of Democratic Republic of Congo prepare to go to the polls on July 30. From 32 candidates, only a short list seem to be worthy challengers to Joseph Kabila.

Since its independence in 1960, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been beset by years of war or mismanaged by leaders who have exploited the country for its vast resources. Recovering from these hardships will be a tremendous challenge for the winner of the upcoming elections.

Current president, Joseph Kabila, is expected to be victorious when the Congolese cast their votes on July 30. According to BBC Focus on Africa, there are few main challengers despite hundreds of registered political parties.

Joseph Kabila appears destined to become the country's first elected president since independence in 1960. At 35, he is the world's youngest head of state, a position he inherited after the assassination of his father, Laurent Kabila, in 2001.

Pierre Pay-Pay was not involved in Congo's bloody conflict but is believed to have earned his epithet, 'Mr. Cash,' through the wealth he is suspected to have acquired during the corrupt reign of Mobuto Sese Seko, when Pay-Pay controlled the Central Bank, the ministries of finance and economics and the state copper mine.

Jean-Pierre Bemba is an ex-rebel leader who was supported by Uganda during the war. As part of the power-sharing government arrangement that helped end the war, Bemba became vice-president in charge of economics

Azarias Ruberwa is another ex-rebel who now belongs to the government as vice-president of security. Born a Tutsi, he was backed by Rwanda during the war and his agenda shows that he is dedicated to protecting this minority group.

Etienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba, claims to be "the alternative to war and corruption." He is known to his supporters as the 'sphinx' and to his critics as 'the eternal opponent.' This 74-year-old formed the Union for Democracy and Progress (UDPS) party during the 1980s in order to promote multiparty democracy. The problem is, Mr. Tshisekedi is not on the list of candidates because he did not decide to run in time.

The following demonstrates the scope of these elections:*