Eagerly awaited general elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo have commenced with the opening of polling stations.
Well before the voting officially began, numerous enthusiastic voters formed queues, ready to participate in the democratic process.
The voting process started at 06:00 local time in the eastern part of the country and at 05:00 GMT in the western region, which is an hour behind.
However, some polling stations experienced delays in initiating the voting process due to challenges in setting up voting machines.
Despite assurances from the electoral body CENI that all registered voters would have an opportunity to cast their votes, concerns persist. Insecurity and logistical challenges have impeded the delivery of voting materials to certain areas of the country.
A total of 44 million registered voters have until 17:00 local time to exercise their voting rights.
In a historic move, more than 13,000 Congolese nationals residing in South Africa, France, the United States, Canada, and Belgium—the DR Congo’s former colonial power—are expected to participate in the voting process.
