SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI ON FRIDAY URGED THE CONGOLESE PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE CALM AND PEACEFUL ELECTIONS, SAYING THE FORTHCOMING POLL WAS OF "HISTORIC IMPORTANCE TO THE FUTURE OF AFRICA." ELECTIONS IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY. "AT THIS CRITICAL TIME, THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA WISH THE SISTER PEOPLE OF THE DRC SUCCESS," MBEKI SAID IN HIS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED ON THE INTERNET, REUTRERS REPORTED. HE WAS CERTAIN, MBEKI SAID, THAT LEADERS IN THE DRC WOULD NOT "DISAPPOINT THE MASSES THEY LEAD", ADDING THAT HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE ELECTIONS WOULD SIGNAL TO THE CONGOLESE PEOPLE "THAT, ONCE AGAIN, THEY ARE BACK ON THE HIGH ROAD TOWARDS THE HEALING OF THEIR WOUNDS." THE SOUTH AFRICAN LEADER HIGHLIGHTED THE RANKING OF THE DRC AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S POOREST NATIONS DESPITE ITS VAST MINERAL WEALTH, ITS RIVER SYSTEM THAT COULD POWER THE ENTIRE CONTINENT AND THE FACT THAT THE COUNTRY CONTAINED HALF OF AFRICA'S NATURAL FORESTS. SINCE 1998 SOUTH AFRICA HAS ACTED AS A MEDIATOR IN THE CONFLICT IN THE CONGO THAT HAS INVOLVED SEVERAL AFRICAN NATIONS. IT IS PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT, SUCH AS THE PRODUCTION AND TRANSPORT OF BALLOT PAPERS FOR THE POLL INVOLVING MORE THAN 25 MILLION ELIGIBLE VOTERS. PRETORIA SENT 118 OBSERVERS TO THE DRC AND, ACCORDING TO REPORTS FRIDAY, WILL PROVIDE AT LEAST FOUR TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS TO ASSIST WITH THE COLLECTION OF BALLOT BOXES FROM OUTLYING AREAS NEAR GOMA.
