Congo Votes

"Instead of growing old with analysis, I dare to obstruct those who dream of paralyzing her." Congolese rapper Alesh calls out the country's politicians "qui concoctent dans le noir" [plotting in the shadows] and urges his fellow countrymen ("all heirs to Patrice Lumumba") to wake up.

Over the past week, it was hard to find an article published in a major international press outlet not looking at the build-up to today's presidential elections through the lens of fear and/of violence. With the exception of a few, most foreign journalists didn't make it outside of Kinshasa (citing logistical problems). People did get killed in the Congolese capital on Saturday, and in Lubumbashi today, but the way this violence creeped into the international headlines mars the calm and smoothness of the election process in other parts of the countries, as reported by Congolese citizen journalists on their blogs, in their local papers, or on their facebook pages. Congo is more than two cities.

For reports by local journalists outside Kinshasa, read Now AfriCAN (North Kivu), Local Voices (Bunyakiri, South Kivu), Mutaani FM (also in Kivu), Radio Okapi (MONUSCO's website and radio channel) and Le Congo. (If you want images and reports from Kinshasa other than the foreign ones, there is Lingala Facile.) And when the votes have been counted by the end of the week, refocus on what's happening outside the Congolese political theatre. Change won't come from the government. As most Congolese realized a long time ago. Ask Alesh.