THE president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) said today that he was confident that Wednesday’s elections will be credible as concerns mount that a severe lack of preparation and electoral violence could throw the poll into disarray.

President Felix Tshisekedi said: “We must stop scaring people. 

“We’ll be going to the polls with complete confidence until there’s evidence to the contrary.”

Around half of the DRC’s 88 million people are expected to vote for the country’s next president in the country’s fourth election since civil and regional wars ended in the early 2000s. 

Yet the election is facing enormous logistical problems, sparking concern it could affect its credibility, say locals and Congo analysts. 

Thousands of polling stations might not have the materials they need, increasing the chance of contested results.

There has also been significant violence in the run-up to the poll.

Human Rights Watch said on Saturday there needed to be an “urgent and impartial” investigation of violent incidents linked to the elections and those responsible should be prosecuted regardless of their political affiliation.

The rights group reported clashes between supporters of rival political parties that have resulted in assaults, sexual violence and at least one death. 

On the ballot itself Richard Moncrieff, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, said delays could feed suspicions of fraud and “give huge amounts of ammunition to the opposition, who could use that to reject the outcome.”

There are reports that papers for recording and reporting the results arrived in the capital, Kinshasa, less than two weeks before the vote — it’s unclear if they ever made it to villages in remote parts of the country. 

The ink on voting cards has reportedly smudged, making many illegible, and the voter registration list hasn’t been properly audited.

Mr Tshisekedi is fighting for his second and final five-year term among a crowded field of approximately 20 candidates.

His main rival appears to be Moise Katumbi, former governor of Katanga province and a millionaire business mogul. 

Conflict in eastern Congo has raged for decades — with more than 120 armed groups fighting for power, resources and to protect their communities — but it has spiked during Mr Tshisekedi’s term with the resurgence of the M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, who have displaced millions of people and seized swathes of land. 

The fighting has prevented 1.5 million people from registering to vote and left millions in conflict areas in North Kivu and Mai-Ndombe provinces unable to participate.