The international community has pumped nearly $500 million into the Democratic Republic of Congo so that its people can vote for a new president in free and fair elections for the first time in over 40 years. But observers say the final two candidates leave a lot to be desired.

One, Joseph Kabila (left), the current president, is accused of incompetence and corruption, and the other, Jean-Pierre Bemba (right), is a current vice-president and former leader of the Congolese rebel group, who has also been accused of corruption. European human rights groups have accused Bemba of leading rebels to commit mass rape, torture and cannibalism, that plagued the Congo during the country's civil war.

"This is not a great choice," says John Semlau from the Carter Center, who's actually in the Congo right now for the run-off election. "There are no real good guys in this contest."

Since the preliminary election held in August, both Bemba and Kabila supporters have waged violent campaigns in the lead up to the run-off election held last Sunday. The results are currently being counted.

Since Sunday, a sergeant shot and killed two election workers inciting riots that burned down polling places and destroyed thousands of ballots.

Semlau says the immediate fear isn't how each candidate will lead if he wins, but rather what will happen if he loses.

"We're trying to challenge each of the candidates with this. . . you claim to be able to run the government of this country, be the legitimate government of this country," says Semlau. "How can you not control your own followers and make sure the thugs that exist on both sides are reigned in?"

But, says Semlau, in the case of the Congo, any election at all is a big step towards democracy.
"What is important is the people of the Congo have had an opportunity to have their voices heard and to begin to create some political space in a country that has no politics."