The question of the audit of the electoral register in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a sensitive subject which is the subject of a passionate debate between the stakeholders of the electoral process. Constant Mutamba, the coordinator of the opposition platform Dynamique progressive (DYPRO), held a press conference to recommend to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to favor national expertise to audit its electoral register.
According to Mutamba, the election being a question that falls under the sovereignty of a nation, it is preferable that the audit of the electoral register be done by Congolese. “We urge the CENI to use national expertise because it is a sovereignist issue, the elections,” he said.
The OIF says it is no longer able to ensure the external audit of the electoral register in the DRC, as the CENI wishes. This organization led by Rwandan Louise Mushikiwabo justifies its decision by the fact that the deadline proposed by the Independent National Electoral Commission is so short that it will not facilitate better support.
The CENI and the OIF have always collaborated in the electoral context. The OIF had, from May 6 to 25, 2018, audited the CENI electoral file through a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data in order to identify its strengths and weaknesses. But, for this election year, things seem more complicated.
The sovereignty issue is therefore at the center of the debate. The DRC is called upon to show its leadership in its quest for electoral independence and to promote local expertise in the evaluation of its electoral register. The responsibility for the success of this electoral process rests mainly on the shoulders of the competent authorities.
However, it is regrettable to note that the audit of the electoral register of the DRC becomes the object of all greed and political differences. At a time when the Congolese people must be united, while setting aside ethnic and political divisions, the controversy surrounding the audit of the electoral register only exacerbates tensions and conflicts.
Ultimately, the supreme interest of the Congolese nation must come first, and the political authorities are called upon to show responsibility and patriotism to guarantee a free, transparent and credible electoral process. The Congolese need fair and democratic elections to promote their full development