Kabila sworn in as Congo’s freely elected president

CONGO inaugurated Joseph Kabila as its first freely elected president in more than four decades yesterday, installing a rebel leader’s son who ushered in a plan to end years of fighting to help the country take a place among the world’s democracies.

Kabila, 35, was sworn in by the Supreme Court outside the presidential palace with thousands of onlookers shading themselves from the sun under umbrellas in the national colours of blue, red and yellow.

Kabila took his oath after a series of prayers from different faiths — Muslim, Christian and the indigenous Kimbanguist Church.