Reliable sources have shared with the Friends of the Congo that on Friday, August 18, 2006, William Swing, head of MONUC and CIAT related to Kabila that he will have to vie for the presidency in a second round. The CEI has not announced the final results as yet, however unless something extraordinary happens, it seems very likely that there will be a second round.

Agence France Press is reporting that with 72 percent of the votes counted, Kabila has 47% and Bemba 18.9%. They are followed by Antoine Gizenga in third place with 10.7%; Nzanga Mobutu, the son of former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko garnered 5.4% and Oscar Kashala 2.9%.

The final preliminary results are expected within the next 24 hours. Should there in fact be a second round, the elections are scheduled to take place on October 29, 2006.