Congo held a referendum on December 18th. In most countries, this might not mean much. But Congo is different: it has not held an independent election in over 40 years. After decades of dictatorship, war and chaos, the referendum was not so much a huge step as a giant leap in the right direction. Though the results are still trickling in from across the country, it seems that over 80% of Congolese have accepted a draft constitution that sets up new institutions, paving the way, with luck, to a functioning government and bureaucracy. But, more important, the vote was also a relatively successful dry-run for a clutch of delayed local, parliamentary and presidential elections that must be held by the middle of this year.
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