Voting calm in Egypt, violent in DRC

Two important elections are happening this week: Egyptians will elect a new Parliament, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) held national elections.

Voting in the first Egyptian election since the removal of former President Hosni Mubarak has so far been peaceful, despite violent protests last week and a voter turnout that officials describe as unexpectedly large. Many said they came to exercise their hard-won right to vote from the revolution, but expressed uncertainty whether the election will be tampered with or fair. The last phase of the election will be completed in March 2012, and the new Parliament will convene in the spring.

In the DRC, violence marred the elections, and some candidates are already stirring their supporters to reject any results saying they have lost. At least three people have already been killed, and a dozen polling places are reported to have been burned down. Because ballots arrived late in some areas, results are expected next week.

For more information on the Egypt elections, see the articles in the Washington Post and New York Times, and the op-ed by Wael Ghonim. For more information on the DRC elections, see the articles on AlertNet and the New York Times.