Distrust of European Troops Grows in Congo

Campaign posters for the upcoming presidential elections on July 30 clutter the streets of Kinshasa. Giant banners showing the counterfeits of the most powerful -- and richest -- candidates fight for attention and votes on every street corner. President Joseph Kabila and his fiercest rival, former warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba, appear larger than life, whereas the weaker, lesser known candidates have to make due with modest home-made posters.

Much is riding on the outcome of the presidential election, which was largely called for under pressure from the international community. Some 33 politicians are competing for votes from more than 25 million Congolese. It is the first democratic election in the country in more than 40 years.

"At the current time, all conditions do not yet exist to hold really transparent, free and democratic elections," the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo, which groups the country's Catholic bishops, said in a statement Friday. It described the polls as a "question of life and death" for a country, which is struggling to recover from the devastating 1998-2003 war. Rebels and renegade militias continue to operate in several areas.

Apollinaire Malu-Malu, president of the independent election community, hopes the first multi-party vote since 1961 will take place peacefully and the country will not erupt in a brutal struggle as in previous years.

"Elections are not a war. There is always a loser; but it is important that the political rules are accepted," he said.

Europe responsible for stability

In order to guarantee that the elections run smoothly, the European Union has sent around 2,000 troops to bolster the UN peacekeepers already in the country. The majority of the soldiers are stationed in Kinshasa and in neighboring Gabon and are responsible for maintaining security during and after the elections and for helping to evacuate international observers in the event of violence.

But as July 30 nears, a feeling of distrust has arisen among the Congolese, who view the Europeans' presence in their country with skepticism. The memory of colonialism still fresh in their minds, many blame the Europeans for the current woes in their country, which despite its rich natural resources has not progressed economically since gaining its independence from Belgium in 1960.

"They talk about a conspiracy. The people are asking themselves, why the white men always send people to corrupt and destroy the country," said Mills Tshibangu, one of the candidates running for president. "The international community will certainly not allow us to elect someone who opposes (western) interests or refuses to support them," he said, summing up the doubts of his countrymen.

EU committed to neutrality

The publisher of the opposition paper "Le Potentiel," Freddy Mulumba, voiced the same concerns saying the EU mission was not transparent enough. "The Congolese believe that the EU troops support Joseph Kabila. The EU needs to communicate better what their position is."

Albrecht Conze, political director of the UN Congo mission, said earlier in the month that it would be particularly important in Kinshasa, where the EU forces are stationed, to "show the locals that the European troops are there to help them have free and fair elections."

"They'll have to undertake all efforts to make clear that they're abiding by the principle of neutrality," he said.

German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung vowed to ensure his country's troops -- the second largest contingent in the EU force -- would uphold the principles of neutrality.

"We are fully committed to neutrality and will not take sides with anyone," he said during an early July visit to the German troops in Kinshas.