BENI - Thousands of voters, weary from frequent armed attacks and an ongoing Ebola outbreak, proudly cast ballots in a northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), even though they will count for nothing. Citing security and health fears, the country’s national electoral commission (CENI) blocked the cities of Beni and Butembo from taking part in Sunday’s presidential, legislative and provincial elections. But determined to have a taste of much-delayed democracy in the troubled country, many turned out at makeshift polling stations for a staged vote. “The city of Beni is in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we cannot deprive ourselves of the right to vote,” said one resident who gave his name as Manix. “That’s why you see these people here voting.” Old and young wrote their choices on blank pieces of paper, collected in plastic bags by mock poll booth operators dressed in official uniforms. The voters even had their left thumbs marked with ink to avoid fraud, as in...
