AFRICAN ELECTIONS DATABASE
Home | About the Database | Site Updates | Recent Elections | Terms and Definitions | Election Calendar | Electoral Authorities | Election Chronology | Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights
Elections in Congo-Kinshasa
[Democratic Republic of the Congo]
 
Political Profile
Political System: Emerging Democracy 
President: Joseph Kabila [since 17 January 2001; succeeded to the presidency following the assassination of his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila, on 16 January 2001, elected 2006] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 5-year term. Electoral System: Two Round (Run-off).
Prime Minister: Antoine Gizenga (PALU) [since 30 December 2006] The Prime Minister is appointed by the President.
Parliament [bicameral]
--Senate (108 Seats) Members are indirectly elected by the Provincial Assemblies, former elected Presidents become Senators-for-life; members serve 5-year terms.
--National Assembly (500 Seats) Members are elected by direct popular vote through parallel systems - 440 from 109 multi-member constituencies using the party-list proportional representation system and 60 from single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post (simple majority) system; members serve 5-year terms.
Political Situation since Independence
1960-1965 Restricted Democratic Practice
1965-1967 Military Regime
1967-1990 One Party State (MPR)
1990-1997 Multiparty Transition
1997-2003 Civil War, National Fragmentation
2003-2006 Transitional Government
2006-        Emerging Democracy
2007 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 5, Civil Liberties - 6, Status: Not Free
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: 2011
Next Scheduled Senatorial Election: 19 January 2006
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: 2011
Political Parties: ABAKO - Alliance of the Kongo People, ADECO - Alliance of Congolese Democrats, APE - Alliance of Peasants and Ecologists, BALUBAKAT - Association of the Luba People of Katanga, CAD - African Congress of Democrats, CDC - Convention of Christian Democrats, CEREA - African Meeting Forum, CONAKAT - Confederation of Katanga Associations, CONGO-PAX - Party for Peace in Congo, CP - Camp of the Fatherland (also known as the "Forces of the Future" party), CPC - Political Coalition of Christians, CRD - Convention for the Republic and Democracy, DC - Christian Democracy, DCF-COFEDEC - Federalist Christian Democracy-Convention of Federalists for Christian Democracy, FCN-Me Kamanda - Nationalist Common Front, FONUS - Innovative Forces for Union and Solidarity, FR - Forces of Renewal, MD - Movement of Democrats, MLC - Movement for the Liberation of Congo, MNC-Kalonji - Congolese National Movement-Kalonji Faction, MNC-Lumumba - Congolese National Movement-Lumumba Faction, MPR - Popular Movement of the Revolution, MPR-Fait Privé - Popular Movement of the Revolution-Fait Privé, MSR - Social Movement for Renewal, PALU - Unified Lumumbist Party, PDC - Christian Democrat Party, PNP - National Party of Progress, PPRD - People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (social-democratic), PSA - African Solidarity Party, R2D - Renewal for Development and Democracy, RCD - Congolese Rally for Democracy, RCDN - Congolese Rally for Democracy-National, RNS - Rally for a New Society, RSF - Rally of Social and Federalist Forces, UDEMO - Union of Mobutist Democrats, UDR - Union for the Defense of the Republic, UNAFEC - Union of Nationalist Federalists of Congo, UPPA - People's Union for Peace and Love, UREC - Union for the Reconstruction of Congo, USL - Liberal Socialist Union.
Coalitions: Congolese National Convention (CONACO) [Contested 1965 Chamber of Representatives Election] CONACO was a loose alliance of forty-nine, primarily southern, parties from among the more than 200 parties that mushroomed into existence to participate in the electoral process; Coalition of Congolese Democrats (CODECO) [Supported Pierre Pay-Pay wa Syakassighe in the 2006 Presidential Election] A coalition of 30 political parties.
 
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential
--Multiparty: 2006
--Single Party: 1970, 1977, 1984
Legislative
--Multiparty: 1960, 1965, 2006
--Single Party: 1970, 1975, 1977, 1982, 1987
Referenda: 1964, 1967, 1973, 2005
 
 
11-22 May 1960 Chamber of Representatives Election

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (137)

Congolese National Movement-Lumumba Faction (MNC-Lumumba)

33

National Party of Progress (PNP)

22

African Solidarity Party (PSA)

13

Alliance of the Kongo People (ABAKO)

12

African Meeting Forum (CEREA)

10

Confederation of Katanga Associations (CONAKAT)

08

Congolese National Movement-Kalonji Faction (MNC-Kalonji)

08

Association of the Luba People of Katanga (BALUBAKAT)

06

Others

25

 
10 July 1964 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Presidential Republic, Federal State, Bicameral Legislature

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,404,139 (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     35,688 

Total Valid Votes

 2,368,451

Results

Number of Votes

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

2,151,122

90.82%

"No" Votes

217,329

09.18%

 
March-April 1965 Chamber of Representatives Election

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party/[Coalition]

Number of Seats (167)

Congolese National Convention [CONACO]

122

Others

45

 
04-16 June 1967 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Presidential Republic, Unitary State, Unicameral Legislature, Legislature elects the President who is then confirmed by referendum, No Presidential Term Limits

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Results

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

97.80%

"No" Votes

02.20%

 
Single Party Elections
Sole Legal Party: Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR)

01 November 1970 Presidential Election (Joseph-Désiré Mobutu re-elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

10,131,827 (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

                0

Total Valid Votes

10,131,827

"Yes" Votes

10,131,669 (99.99%)

"No" Votes

            158 (00.01%)

1970 National Assembly Election

24 June 1973 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Presidential Republic, No Presidential Term Limits

Registered Voters

673,223

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

529,573

"Yes" Votes

411,272 (77.66%)

"No" Votes

118,301 (22.34%)

1975 National Legislative Council Election

October 1977 National Legislative Council Election

03 December 1977 Presidential Election (Mobutu Sese Seko re-elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

10,694,624 (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

            820

Total Valid Votes

10,693,804

"Yes" Votes

10,492,497 (98.20%)

"No" Votes

     201,557 (01.80%)

September 1982 National Legislative Council Election

July 1984 Presidential Election (Mobutu Sese Seko re-elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

15,012,078

"Yes" Votes

14,885,997 (99.16%)

"No" Votes

     126,101 (00.84%)

06 September 1987 National Legislative Council Election

Note: Joseph-Désiré Mobutu changed his name to Mobutu Sese Seko in 1972.
 
18-19 December 2005 Constitutional Referendum [Results by Province]
Main Points: A limit of two five-year terms for a president elected by popular vote; Citizenship for members of all ethnic groups living in the country at the time of its independence in 1960; A firm system of checks and balances between the President, the Prime Minister and the Parliament.
Ballot Question: Do you approve of the draft Constitution that is submitted to you?

Registered Voters

 25,021,703 

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

15,505,810 (62.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     725,735 

Total Valid Votes

 14,780,075 

Results

Number of Votes

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

12,461,001

84.31%

"No" Votes

2,319,074

15.69%

 
July/October 2006 Presidential Election
First Round (30 July 2006)

Registered Voters

25,420,199

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

17,931,238 (70.5%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     993,704

Total Valid Votes

16,937,534

Second Round (29 October 2006)

Registered Voters

 25,420,199

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

 16,615,479 (65.4%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     358,878

Total Valid Votes

 16,256,601

Candidate (Party) [Coalition]

First Round

Second Round

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Joseph Kabila Kabange

7,590,485

44.81%

9,436,779

58.05%

Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo (MLC)

3,392,592

20.03%

6,819,822

41.95%

Antoine Gizenga (PALU)

2,211,280

13.06%

-

-

François Joseph Mobutu Nzanga Ngangawe (UDEMO)

808,397

4.77%

-

-

Oscar Kashala Lukumuenda (UREC)

585,410

3.46%

-

-

Azarias Ruberwa Manywa (RDC)

285,641

1.69%

-

-

Pierre Pay-Pay wa Syakassighe (DCF-COFEDEC) [CODECO]

267,749

1.58%

-

-

Vincent de Paul Lunda Bululu (RSF)

237,257

1.40%

-

-

Joseph Olenghankoy Mukundji (FONUS)

102,186

0.60%

-

-

Pierre Anatole Matusila Malungeni Ne Kongo

99,408

0.59%

-

-

Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi (FR)

96,503

0.57%

-

-

Bernard Emmanuel Kabatu Suila (USL)

86,143

0.51%

-

-

Eugène Diomi Ndongala (DC)

85,897

0.51%

-

-

Kasonga Banyingela (APE)

82,045

0.48%

-

-

Christophe Mboso N’Kodia Pwanga (CRD)

78,983

0.47%

-

-

Norbert Likulia Bolongo

77,851

0.46%

-

-

Roger Lumbala (RCDN)

75,644

0.45%

-

-

Justine M’Poyo Kasa-Vubu (MD)

75,065

0.44%

-

-

Guy Patrice Lumumba

71,699

0.42%

-

-

Cathérine Marthe Nzuzi wa Mbombo
(MPR-Fait Privé)

65,188

0.38%

-

-

Alou Bonioma Kalokola

63,692

0.38%

-

-

Paul Joseph Mukungubila Mutombo

59,228

0.35%

-

-

Arthur Z’ahidi Ngoma (CP)

57,277

0.34%

-

-

Wivine N’Landu Kavidi (UDR)

54,482

0.32%

-

-

Gérard Kamanda wa Kamanda (FCN-Me Kamanda)

52,084

0.31%

-

-

Florentin Mokonda Bonza (CDC)

49,292

0.29%

-

-

Alafuele Mbuyi Kalala (RNS)

44,030

0.26%

-

-

Jacob Niemba Souga (CPC)

40,188

0.24%

-

-

Jonas Mukamba Kadiata Nzemba (ADECO)

39,973

0.24%

-

-

Marie-Thérèse Nlandu Mpolo Nene (CONGO-PAX)

35,587

0.21%

-

-

Osée Muyima Ndjoko (R2D)

25,198

0.15%

-

-

Hassan Thassinda Uba Thassinda (CAD)

23,327

0.14%

-

-

Timothée Moleka Nzulama (UPPA)

17,753

0.10%

-

-

 
30 July 2006 National Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (500)

People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD)

111

Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC)

64

Unified Lumumbist Party (PALU)

34

Social Movement for Renewal (MSR)

27

Forces of Renewal (FR)

26

Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD)

15

Coalition of Congolese Democrats (CODECO)

10

Convention of Christian Democrats (CDC)

10

Union of Mobutist Democrats (UDEMO)

09

Camp of the Fatherland (CP)

08

Federalist Christian Democracy-Convention of Federalists for Christian Democracy (DCF-COFEDEC)

08

Christian Democrat Party (PDC)

08

Union of Nationalist Federalists of Congo (UNAFEC)

07

Others*

100

Independents

63

*The "Others" category includes 56 political parties that won less than five seats.