The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) recently announced the final closure of voter identification and registration operations throughout the Congolese territory and in 5 pilot countries. However, these operations encountered several major difficulties, in particular the cases of death which were reported by the CENI.
In an information point made public on May 12, 2023, the CENI Rapporteur explained that 31 deaths have been recorded, both among temporary operational staff and among applicants and police officers assigned to the security of registration centers. While 16 members of the registration centers lost their lives, the police recorded 8 deaths linked to the operations, and 7 applicants also lost their lives.
These deaths are due to a variety of causes. For example, two applicants were killed by bullets fired by the police, while three others lost their lives by drowning after obtaining their voter cards. Two applicants also died of short illnesses while waiting in the queue.
Despite this, the CENI managed to carry out these voter identification and registration operations in just 122 days, i.e. 4 months, taking into account the new challenges linked to the five pilot countries in which Congolese residing in the foreigner were able to register.
As the DRC faces many problems such as massive deforestation, floods, terrorist attacks and the shortage of corn, it is essential that Congolese citizens can make themselves heard by actively participating in the elections. The CENI must therefore ensure that they have secure registration centers so that their lives are not put in danger by carrying out such an important act.