Heart of Congo

This week the Democratic Republic of Congo held its first elections in 40 years. This momentous occasion was the start of another chapter in the long, blood-filled history of this central African country. The success of these elections depends on voter turnout, which at this point is low, since most people were either afraid to cast their vote or were astonished by the notion of actually doing so. It's hard to say. Recent violence actually closed most polling stations some time ago. Monday’s vote was a second chance, in more ways than one.
 
The Congo is a confused state of over 250 ethnic groups, four official languages and a government that is, at best, ambiguous. While it has struggled against Imperialism, particularly from the Belgians, it has also fostered its own homegrown tyrants and oppressive leaders. To say that the Congo is in transition, would be an understatement. Millions of people have died in various ethnic wars and the hope for peace is a faint one.

For this election, fear has been the most powerful force in the regions. According to a story in the Associated Press, voter turnout is between five and 15 per cent. Most people aren’t even registering to vote and seats are allocated to the percentage of registered voters.
 
Perhaps Joseph Conrad put it best in Heart of Darkness, the famous tale of the trip into the region recognized as the Congo. We can no longer separate ourselves from the interior as Marlow did by traveling up the river. By stepping on the land we enter the real Congo. Perhaps this is the same route to understanding Africa as a whole. Like most people in the Northern Hemisphere, we can no longer be ambivalent to the situation.
 
That's just my opinion. I could be wrong.