STORY: DR Congo president wraps up election campaign, calling on Congolese to vote
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 18, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 19, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:35
LOCATION: Kinshasa
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of a rally for election campaign
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Lingala): FELIX TSHISEKEDI, DRC president, presidential candidate
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Lingala): JOLIE KIMBONDO, Supporter
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (French): TSHIKALA ADOS, Supporter

STORYLINE:

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) presidential candidates wrapped up their campaigns on Monday as Congolese will cast their votes on Dec. 20 for a new president as well as national and provincial legislatures. 
In Kinshasa, DRC's capital, the outgoing president Felix Tshisekedi, who is running for his second term, called on Congolese to vote in the upcoming elections. 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Lingala): FELIX TSHISEKEDI, DRC president, presidential candidate
"You should understand that here, it is a problem of our country. So on Dec. 20, whether it rains or not, you will have to go vote, all the Congolese must go and vote, everyone with their voter cards. Do you know the number you are going to vote for in the presidential election? No. 20! What is number? No. 20. There you go. You are going to vote for No. 20. And after voting for No. 20, you should also look for other candidates from the Sacred Union, in the legislative election, because I must also have the majority in parliament, which is important for me to work well. Thank you!"
   
The candidate who gains the most votes in the first round becomes the next president, with a five-year term, renewable once only. Tshisekedi came to the power by winning the 2018 election, marking the country's, according to the United Nations, "first peaceful transfer of power" since its independence from Belgium. 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Lingala): JOLIE KIMBONDO, Supporter
"For me, I am very happy with what President Felix Tshisekedi is doing. He has done a lot of great things in this country that others have failed. For example, he made primary education free. Mothers can go at the free maternity wards. Routes have been built. He deserves a second term."
   
SOUNDBITE 3 (French): TSHIKALA ADOS, Supporter
"Today, he could have a second term so that he can liberate this country."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kinshasa.
(XHTV)