In a bizarre twist, the national electoral commission has confirmed that the delayed national election will be held this Sunday, but not in Beni or Butembo or the western city of Yumbi.  For these three cities, elections are being scheduled for March 2019 and voters are disenfranchised for the presidential vote.

The commission is citing Ebola fears to justify this course of action.  With Beni and Butembo areas generally opposed to current President Kabila and his chosen successor Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, locals are not happy and are not buying the Ebola rationale.  Demonstrations with a high probability of violence are anticipated if this decision is not quickly revisited.