The many ways in which elections contribute to unnecessary conflict are being illustrated yet again. This time those paying the price are the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Where the incumbent, President Joseph Kabila, seemed to have correctly read the public mood on pushing for an end to presidential term limits. No effort was made to achieve the now ubiquitous third term. Instead, he’s going for something new. There is apparently no shortage of creativity and innovation when it comes to the so-called democratic process.

Legislation pending discussion at the Senate level last Friday has to do with making the right to vote contingent not on normal regulations emanating from the electoral commission — usually, for obvious reasons, having to do with evidence of one’s citizenship and age of majority — to register as a voter.

The argument seems to be that a whole population census is needed — in most countries done on a 10-year basis for purposes of generating the demographic statistics to inform public policy planning — before voter registration can begin.

Some estimates are that, given the size of the DRC and its infrastructure, completing the population census could take up to three years.

Only following which voter registration — under the new legislation — could begin. Effectively extending the incumbent’s term by at least three years without removing presidential term limits.

The Congolese have not, in the main, appreciated this interesting contribution to the tricks of the electoral trade by their leadership.

No less than the leadership of the Catholic church has called on Congolese citizens to resist final passage of the legislation by all possible legal and peaceful means. Students have taken to the streets. As has the political opposition. Public protests quickly extended to the east of the country.

And the state pushed back, violently. By Friday, one human-rights organisation had placed the death toll at 35. The state responded angrily, stating “only” a dozen protesters had been killed. It is hard to know one way or another if one is not in Kinshasa. The Internet was shut down for two days — it is now reportedly back. But short message services remain off.

On Friday afternoon, in a victory for the protestors, the Senate passed the law with a modified version of Article 8 removing the requirement for a census. A bicameral committee will now seek to reconcile the two chambers’ Bills before a final vote.

Other states are teetering on the edge of conflict with their elections but remain amenable to being pulled back from the brink. Burundi, for example, which looked set for violence as a result of the activities of the ruling political party’s youth wing last year, has been closely monitored and responded to by the African Union. The situation remains fragile, however.

One is grateful for the ever-more apparent interventions by the AU and regional blocs in pulling recalcitrant states back from the brink. One wonders why, however, these states went to the brink in the first place.

L. Muthoni Wanyeki is Amnesty International’s regional director for East Africa