BY SAM MEDNICK

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Congo’s president says he has confidence Wednesday’s vote will be rolled out credibly, as tensions mount that a severe lack of electoral preparation could throw the conflict-riddled nation into disarray.

“We must stop scaring people,” President Felix Tshisekedi told The Associated Press. “We’ll be going (to the polls) with complete confidence until there’s evidence to the contrary.”

Some 44 million people — almost half the population — are expected to vote for Congo’s next president Wednesday in the country’s fourth election since civil and regional wars ended in the early 2000s. Yet the election is facing enormous logistical problems sparking concern it could impact its credibility, say locals and Congo experts. Thousands of polling stations might not have the materials they need upping the chances of contested results.

Initial fears of unrest surrounding the elections stemmed from the opposition rejecting the vote because