S. African observers confident of DRC election

The South African observer mission Friday expressed confidence that Sunday's elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) would go ahead despite sporadic incidents of violence.

"As election campaigning comes to a close, the mood in the DRC has been that of enthusiasm and anticipation in spite of sporadic disruptive incidents that have been reported in some parts of the country," the mission said in a statement.

South African Deputy Defence Minister Mluleki George on Friday paid tribute to South Africans who have volunteered to help the Congolese people hold their first democratic elections in over forty years.

DRC Independent Electoral Commission intensified voter education activities this week to get the citizens ready for polling day. They confirmed that all voting material, including ballot papers, had been received and was ready for use.

The mission would be deployed in all 11 provinces of the DRC until August 4 to observe all phases of the elections.

The central African country goes to the polls on July 30 for the first time in 40 years.

Source: Xinhua