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Congo's Historic Election

The most recent election has shown that the Congolese people want their voices heard and that they overwhelmingly desire good governance, security, economic and social development.
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Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the HALO Trust USA; Co-chair of the Arizona Governor's Council on human trafficking

Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the HALO Trust USA; Co-chair of the Arizona Governor's Council on human trafficking
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Much has been reported on the presidential and parliamentary elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this week. I have been traveling to the region since 1994 and witnessing the elections process first-hand on Monday with Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) gave me hope for the future of the DRC.

I visited five polling sites in eastern Congo on election day and was struck by the sheer amount of Congolese wanting to take part in the democratic process. Some estimate voter turnout was over 70%. Each site was packed with voters, including a high percentage of women and young first time voters. These voters faced the challenges of voting with a determination that was inspiring. I spoke with women in the rural area of Sake outside of Goma who refused to be turned away at the polls, women who despite being illiterate, were fighting for their political voice.

While there have been reports of fraud and a simple lack of capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), I was impressed with the CENI officials who I met, Congolese citizens who were doing their best to manage an extremely complicated process in any country, let alone Congo.

ECI supported trainings for young election observers and independent youth journalists, and programs aimed at voter educations and engagement among vulnerable populations. As we toured polling sites, we met up with these young election observers and media. These young people were hustling around the city of Goma in an effort to hold the election to standards of transparency and to give people a voice. If the youth are our future, then Congo is ripe with driven and principled future leaders.

This elections process has shown that the Congolese people want their voices heard and that they overwhelmingly desire good governance, security, economic and social development. I will be returning to Congo next week to hear the election results and with the hope that there is further peace in store for the region.

Photos from election day

DRC Election Day with Eastern Congo Initiative
Viewing the ballot(01 of11)
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Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative
Women voting in Eastern Congo(02 of11)
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Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative
The presidential ballot(03 of11)
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Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative
(04 of11)
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Polls open in Goma - Nov. 28, 2011Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative
DRC Electoral Officials(05 of11)
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Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative
(06 of11)
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Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative
(07 of11)
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Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative
A woman votes(08 of11)
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Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative
(09 of11)
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Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative
The Local Ballot(10 of11)
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Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative
(11 of11)
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Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative

Pre-election scenes in Goma

Pre-Election in DRC with Cindy McCain
Campaign posters in Goma, easterm Congo(01 of05)
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Pre-DRC election campaign posters, Goma. November 26, 2011.Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative.
Removed campaign material one day prior to elections(02 of05)
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Removed campaign material one day prior to Congo's Nov. 28 election.Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative.
Cindy McCain with Congolese university students(03 of05)
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Roundtable on the November 28th election with university students in Goma, eastern Congo.Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative.
Speaking with students in Congo(04 of05)
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Cindy McCain speaking at student roundtable in advance of November 28th elections in Congo.Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative.
Cindy McCain meets with election observers in Congo(05 of05)
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Cindy McCain meeting with South African Development Community election observers in Goma, DRC.Photo by: Piet Suess for Eastern Congo Initiative.

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