Congolese voters have begun enrolling for a presidential election meant to hold in December, to choose a replacement for President Joseph Kabila.
But the president’s successful co-optation of many of his opponents and the ill luck that has befallen some of the remaining political opposition, mean that elections remain a distant prospect.
In December 2016, when President Joseph Kabila refused to step down at the end of his constitutional mandate, many Congolese hoped popular protests could quickly force him from power.
More than six months and many protests after, Kabila has weathered all challenges, maintaining a firm grip on power.
But voters in the DRC are flocking to various sites in Kinshasa to register for the next presidential elections slated for December 31st 2017,which they hope will replace the long-serving Kabila.
The electoral commission however says elections could again be postponed due to delays registering millions of voters.