Bad News in Congo?

Last week I expressed skepticism about the Congo vote, noting that Joseph Kabila, the incumbent, was heavily favored and wondering how realistic, if status quo ante prevails, it is to expect change. But this news in today's New York Times indicates that things might be even worse than I suspected. Apparently ruthless warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba is in the lead. Suffice it to say this is worse than status quo. As a warlord, Bemba's troops have been accused of gross atrocities in its campaigns in the beleaguered eastern part of the country, including allegations of cannibalism. A Bemba victory would not put Congo on the right path.

All that said, it is far too early to worry that Bemba is going somehow to emerge as Congo's next President. There are nearly three dozen candidates for the office and if no candidate wins a majority of the votes, which is almost a certainty, the two leading vote getters will face off in a runoff election that will surely be intense and quite likely characterized by violence and attempts at corruption, intimidation, and manipulation.