Workers were seen filling pot-holes on the road leading to the African Union City from the Airport where foreign delegations were due to arrive.

Kabila was counting on the presence of his closest neighbours although not all were expected to be represented on a presidential level.

Denis Sassou Nguesso, president of Congo-Brazzaville which is just four kilometres away from Kinshasa has announced he’ll be there for the ceremony. The leaders of Uganda and Tanzania are also expected to take part.

The presence of Rwanda’s Paul Kagamé and Angola’s Eduardo Dos Santos have not been confirmed.

South Africa and Burundi are sending ministers.

European countries and the United States, whose observers pointed to electoral irregularities, will only have their ambassadors at the ceremony.