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Updates
date: 12.13.11 / posted by Evan
Congo’s second election since the “official” end of the civil war in 2003 was held in November. Last week the election results were finally released, with the incumbent, Joseph Kabila being declared the winner with 49% of the vote to opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi taking 32%.
Officials from the Carter Center have said that the official results of the election “lack credibility.” Following the release of the election results Tshisekedi declared himself the winner.
Here are several articles about the election:
Enough Project Blog post from Easter Congo
Washing Post Editorial
Ben Affleck/Cindy McCain/Anthony W. Gambino Op-Ed on Huffington Post
The situation is tense. Although police disbursed protesters there yesterday, our friends in Bukavu have told us that things there have been peaceful thus far. We hope and pray that as time passes this political situation will end peacefully. We will continue to post any information we receive as we get it.
date: 9.28.11 / posted by Evan
“The situation facing the DRC is often overlooked for it’s complexity”
- Crisis in the Congo (Film, 2011)
This quote from the short documentary Crisis in the Congo being produced by The Friends of the Congo could not be more true. The film does a beautiful job of helping you understand the complexities of the situation Congolese people gripping your heart with the facts of what is actually happening. Through interviews intertwined with news footage it weaves the story of how we got to where we are in the Congo today and how the west has been complicit in much of what has happened to bring the Congolese to their present circumstances.
NOTE: The short film is a graphic portrait of what is happening in the DRC, so please be advised before you begin the video that it is not for the squemish. But it may be the best piece I have seen on what is happening in the DR Congo and gives a very clear and stunning portrait of the internal and external political and social climate facing the Congo today.
Please watch and share this 26 minute film from the Friends of the Congo that will change forever how you see the situation facing the DRC.