Volatile DR Congo braces for troubled election

– Youth vote –

Two-thirds of DR Congo’s estimated 80 million population are under the age of 25, which means that a “Kabila Generation” could have a huge say on polling day.

Despite the many problems surrounding the election, many young voters interviewed by AFP said they would turn out, and economic reform was uppermost in their minds.

“We want things to change. We cannot live like this,” said 24-year-old Kalumba Mwewa in Lubumbashi, capital of the mining province of Katanga.

Mwewa said he trained as a mechanic but could not find work so instead earns a few dollars a day by illegally digging for copper and cobalt. He is considering voting for Fayulu.

“Maybe if I vote for him, it will change,” Mwewa said.