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Democratically-Elected Kabila Sworn into Power in the Congo

In the presence of thousands of people under the scorching African sun, the first democratically elected president in forty years was sworn into power in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa. Joseph Kabila, a 35-year-old, who has not swayed from his peace-plan since introducing it four years ago, was sworn in by the country?s Supreme Court justices after a series of oaths were intoned from various different faiths.

Joseph Kabila is the son of an assassinated rebel-leader. His father helped depose the tyrannical Mobutu Sese Seto who ruled the Congo for 32 years, after it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Joseph Kabila took over from his father, vowing to end faction fighting in his country and bring peace and economic prosperity. While the Congo is rich in mineral wealth, its inhabitants have never benefited from any of the income derived from the gold, copper and diamonds, mainly because of Sese Seto?s greed and plundering of billions of dollars into his private coffers.

While Kabila?s entry into power has been greeted with happiness and optimism in this war-torn nation, there are still others that do not see him as their true leader. Kabila beat his toughest opponent, former warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba by a narrow 52% margin. Bemba has demanded a re-election and troops loyal to him have been garrisoned outside the country?s capital in fear of conflicts between Kabila?s forces. Bemba refused to attend the swearing-in ceremony, despite Kabila?s reassurance that opposition parties would be free to operate within the Congo?s legal political framework.