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Citizens, Monitors Pin Hopes on Congo's Elections

The Democratic Republic of Congo is preparing for its first democratic elections since 1960. Western nations are spending $400 million to help the polling go smoothly.

The United Nations has dispatched 17,000 troops -- its biggest peacekeeping mission in the world -- to help stabilize the vast country.

The people of Congo hope the elections will help end the corruption and civil war that have plagued the nation for decades.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Jason Beaubien is NPR's Global Health and Development Correspondent on the Science Desk.