The Conference of Bishops of the Democratic Republic of Congo (CENCO) published a letter on October 6 to all Congolese Catholics and people of goodwill entitled, “The Truth Will Set You Free.”   In the letter, the Bishops congratulate the Congolese people for the success of organizing the first round of elections and for coming out in large numbers to vote.  They acknowledge the shortcomings of the organization of the first round and ask the Independent Electoral Commission to learn from that experience in order to assure that the second round can be accepted with more credibility.

Presidential candidate Joseph Kabila signed a pact with Francois Joseph Zanga Mobutu, son of former DRC President Mobutu Sese Seko.  The agreement brings Mobutu onto Kabila’s electoral platform, l’Alliance de la majorite presidentielle (AMP), along with politicians from several former DRC regimes.