Politics

Politics of the Democratic Republic of the Congo takes place in a framework of a republic in transition from a civil war to a semi-presidential democratic republic. On 18 and 19 December 2005, a successful nationwide referendum was carried out on a draft constitution that set the stage for elections in July and October 2006. The voting process, though technically difficult due to the lack of infrastructure, was facilitated and organised by the Congolese Independent Electoral Commission with support from UN mission to the Congo (MONUC). Although voting was for the most part peaceful, it spurred violence in many parts of the war-torn east and the Kasais.