Painting by Cheri Samba

Lokuta eyaka na ascenseur, kasi vérité eyei na escalier mpe ekomi. Lies come up in the elevator; the truth takes the stairs but gets here eventually. - Koffi Olomide

Ésthetique eboma vélo. Aesthetics will kill a bicycle. - Felix Wazekwa

Friday, November 18, 2011

Sources of election information

Addition: I had forgotten to mention the wonderful blog/website Local Voices that has been reporting from Bunyakiri (South Kivu) for the entire election period, including pictures and interviews.

In preparation for the big day, here are some important sources of information on the elections:

2006 elections:

I've uploaded the following documents here:
  • an Excel break-down of the 2006 presidential results by province: 1st round (slight incomplete, go to "Province Wise" for best view;
  • an Excel break-down of the 2006 presidential results by province: 2nd round (go to "Province Wise" for best view;
  • a nice analysis of the first round presidential results by Léon de Saint Moulin and Eléonore Wolff, along with a series of good maps;
  • an Excel spreadsheet of current national assembly members and their political affiliation;
  • an Excel spreadsheet of current senators with their political affiliation;
  • an analysis of the parliamentary elections of 2006 by Jean-Claude Willame;
  • an analysis of the 2006 provincial elections by MONUC;
  • the electoral law (2011 revised version);
  • the amended electoral law with distribution of seats in parliament (August 2011);
In addition, check out the following websites:
  •  The Congolese election commission (CENI) has a list of all voters, candidates and polling booths here;
  • The Congolese civil society coalition AETA (Agir pour les élections transparentes et apaisées)  has regular updates on its website;
  • Now African, a website run by two Congolese activists (Priscilla Kounkou Hoveyda and Camille Ntoto) featuring blogs on how Congolese in the East perceive elections;
  • Alex Engwete (aka Jimmy Yuma) has an excellent blog on Congolese politics and culture from the ground up;
  • Mutaani FM, a Congolese radio station broadcasting from Goma with a good website ;
  • Congolese journalist Mvemba Dizolele has a good blog here;
  • Uhaki News, a group of 25 Congolese female journalists reporting on local issues in the East;
  • Amy Ernst has a good blog on her work for a local NGO in the eastern Congo, as well as ruminations on Congolese politics and history from a local perspective;
  • Congo Ba Leki, a grouping of young Congolese bloggers. Unfortunately, they haven't had any postings since October.
  • For a look at Kasai, Le Grand Kasai has a blog here;
  • I am sure Laura Seay will be blogging on the elections from Texas in Africa;
  • The official campaign websites of Etienne Tshisekedi, Vital Kamerhe, and Joseph Kabila;
  • And of course, the incomparable Radio Okapi, the UN radio in the country.

7 comments:

Anand said...

Thanks again for sharing sources and details, Jason. It will be interesting to see how things pan out. Couple of questions: I am interested in Tshisekedi's impact on younger voters, since a majority of potential voters are on the "younger" end of the spectrum. Does he resonate with them in general or is he viewed as sort of a dinosaur from yesteryear? Also, are his recent rants being used by other candidates to discredit him? Lastly, are there ANY pygmie representatives in Congolese government? Thanks again for sharing.

Anand said...

I think the link for "the electoral law (2011 revised version)" may not be functioning.

Phongi Mbika said...

Jason,

I have read your predictions and I think that for the most, the percentages are quite in the ranges. I have created a simulator that I am using to predict the results and the (electorate) percentages that I am using are quite similar to yours; however, the results that I have so far, are not that close. I am quite confident about the tool and would like to share. My name is Phongi Mbika and I can be reached to kongomonene@gmail.com.

D Djeli said...

"pygmie"

Can you improve on that word please? Try Twa or Mbuti or whatever....

Anand said...

@D Djeli - My apologies. I feel where you are coming from. "Pygmie" certainly is an unattractive and inadequate word, but I am just unsure of what word to use when trying to collectively refer to Twa, Mbuti, Aka, etc. One wants to be respectful of distinctions, but still be able to collectively address a marginalized group. I've seen the word "Bambenga" used, but I don't know its meaning or cultural connotation. Might be a slur for all I know. Again, apologies. I never got my question answered though. Are there any representatives of groups like the Twa or Mbuti in Congolese politics?

Anonymous said...

your link for provincial results of 2006 elections is not working. If u can give me a brakdown of South and Noth Kivu province.. Who won in different territories in the province

watchonlinemovies said...

Presidential Pollsyour link for provincial results of 2006 elections is not working. If u can give me a brakdown of South and Noth Kivu province.. Who won in different territories in the province

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