The provisional results of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidential elections were due today. In the centre of Lubumbashi, the main square was quiet. Usually abuzz with people after work, fear of unrest caused people to stay away. The rain didn’t help.
The giant screen outside the main post-office was showing advertisements. The guys in charge said they would not be showing the results here. The cinema opposite was closing early.
Driving to a bar usually bustling with the after-work crowd, a few danced indoors, but tonight the bar-tenders would not be busy. The streets outside were quiet.
And then came the announcement that the results would be postponed.