23 October 2006

A 108-member South African Observer Mission left for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Saturday ahead of the second round of presidential elections, taking place this Sunday.

"The South African Observer Mission is the largest ever to be dispatched by our government, and will be deployed in all 11 provinces in that country," mission spokesperson Vincent Hlongwane said.

Deputy Defence Minister Mluleki George leads the mission, as he did during the DRC's parliamentary elections, and the first round of its presidential elections, in July - the first democratic polls to be held in the resource-rich African state in over 40 years.

Sunday's presidential elections are being contested by current President Joseph Kabila and Vice-President Jean Pierre Bemba.

A second round is being held as no outright majority was captured by either of the candidates in the first round in July.

According to Hlongwane, SA's mission stay in the DRC for 12 days to observe all phases of the elections, including campaigning, the voting process and the counting of votes.

The team comprises members of Parliament, government officials, representatives of civil society, business people, religious leaders, trade unionists and individual South Africans with experience in observing elections.

Source: BuaNews

	Jean-Pierre Bemba and Joseph Kabila: one of these men will be the DRC's next president (Photo by Myriam Asmani, UN Mission in DR Congo)

	DRC peace 'has to hold': Pahad DRC 'fragile but promising' DRC: Kabila, Bemba for 2nd round DRC elections 'free and fair' DRC polls go off peacefully SA, Europe team up for DRC polls SA extends African peace missions UN head praises SA's leadership SA's role in 'a better world'

	UN Mission in DR Congo  African Union  Department of Foreign Affairs

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