Title: The recomposition of the CENI: a subject of tension in the DRC
For several weeks, a debate has been raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on the need to recompose the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI). The president of the Dynamic Progressive Revolutionary, Me Constant Mutamba, recently spoke on the subject during a press briefing, affirming his opposition to a planned march to demand the recomposition of the CENI.
According to Me Mutamba, the electoral process is going well in the DRC and Denis Kadima, current president of the CENI, is working professionally. He also called on the former president of the CENI, Corneille Nangaa, to show restraint and reserve. The Congolese opponent also urged the CENI to refer to internal observation missions for the audit of its electoral register in order to guarantee the transparency of the elections.
However, some members of the opposition in the DRC believe that the CENI is not sufficiently independent and that its current composition is biased in favor of the power in place. The opposition political parties have therefore planned a march to demand the recomposition of the CENI, but this has been postponed to 18 May. This decision angered some presidential candidates, such as Joseph Kabila, who felt that the postponement was a violation of the right to demonstrate.
This situation demonstrates the importance of transparency and fairness in electoral processes in the DRC. While President Kadima believes that the CENI works professionally, it is crucial that it be seen as an impartial institution by all stakeholders in the electoral process. Independent audits could help clarify the situation and reassure voters about the reliability of the CENI.
Finally, it is important that the dialogue remains open between the various stakeholders in order to guarantee transparent and credible elections in the DRC.