Congo enters its second day of voting after a chaotic rollout forced the election's extension

Congo is entering its second day of voting after a chaotic rollout and lengthy delays forced the election’s extension

KINSHASA, Congo -- Congo entered its second day of voting Thursday after a chaotic rollout and lengthy delays forced the election's extension, drawing criticism from some opposition candidates as concerns mount that the logistical hurdles could challenge the result's credibility.

At stake is the future of one of Africa’s largest nations and one whose mineral resources are increasingly crucial to the global economy. Congo has a history of disputed elections that can turn violent, and there’s little confidence among many Congolese in the country’s institutions. President Felix Tshisekedi, who is seeking his second and final five-year term, has spent much of his presidency trying to gain legitimacy after a disputed 2018 election.

There is no second round of voting and the winner, expected to be announced no later than Dec. 31, needs to get a majority of votes.

A fractured opposition makes Tshisekedi the likely favorite to win.

Some 44 million people — almost half the population — were expected to vote for Congo's next president. But many, including several million displaced by conflict in the vast country’s east, found it difficult to do so. The fighting prevented 1.5 million people from registering to vote.