Congo president fails to win outright majority

Results from Congo’s historic elections today show President Joseph Kabila failing to win an outright majority, and set up a second round vote pitting him against a former rebel leader, officials announced.

With 16.9 million votes cast in the July 30 ballot, Kabila won 45% against Jean-Pierre Bemba’s 20%, said Electoral Commission Chairman Apollinaire Malu Malu. The remainder of the votes cast were shared among 31 other candidates.