People in the Congo voted in democratic elections for the first time in more than 40 years, but for local journalists covering the run-up, it's been anything but free and fair.

Attacks against journalists increased in the months leading up to the Democratic Republic of Congo's first elections in more than half a century.

Just two weeks ago a journalist was gunned down in his home.

"The previous day he published an article in one of the big the daily newspapers on what he called the failure of DRC's political transition," according to Julia Crawford of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Congo is one of the poorest and most violent countries in the world. The political parties running for office are from warring factions during their recent civil war. This election is considered a huge accomplishment, but Crawford says just having an election isn't enough.

"We believe strongly that they cannot be free and fair elections without freedom for journalists to cover it free and fairly."