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Multi-party elections in the DR Congo were held in July 2006, the first multi-party elections in the country since 1960.
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The 1960 elections, held in the wake of independence, saw Patrice Lumumba become prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu president. In 1965 Mobutu Sese Seko seized power and declared himself president. He ruled until 1997 when Laurent Kabila seized power after the First Congo War.
When Laurent Kabila was killed in 2001, his son Joseph Kabila took over the presidency while the country was going through the Second Congo War (1998–2003). The Second Congo War was officially declared over in 2003. The period that followed was relatively peaceful, with the United Nations' largest peacekeeping force maintaining the peace. However, the Ituri Conflict marred the peace, with periods of violence in the northeastern Ituri Province.
In December 2005 a referendum on a new constitution was held. It was approved, paving way for the first multiparty elections in 46 years, which were held in July 2006.
2006 General Election
A general election was held on Sunday 30 July 2006, which were the first free multi-party elections in 46 years. Voters went to the polls to elect a new President, federal parliament and provincial parliaments.
A run-off election was held on 29 October to choose the president as no candidate had obtained more than 50% of the vote. Joseph Kabila was elected in the second round with 58% of the vote.
The international community donated $460 million to fund the elections and deployed the world's largest UN peacekeeping operation to help the stability of the election.
2011 Presidential election
The 2011 elections marked the second vote the country held since the Kivu Conflict that killed more than five million people. Violence marred the run-up to the 2011 Presidential election after armed men attacked polling stations and a truck carrying ballots. The election was also plagued by voting difficulties as some voting materials arrived late, or not at all. The presidential election involved 11 candidates, although incumbent President Joseph Kabila winning again amidst claims of vote-rigging and intimidation.