The political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to be marked by debates around the integrity of the electoral process, in particular the appointment of a credible international body to audit the electoral register. The Lay Coordination Committee (CLC), which brings together several secular organizations, asks the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to respect the basic principles of the audit and to choose authorized organizations to carry out the external audit of the electoral register. The CLC believes that the CENI circumvents the question of the audit by designating its own experts to self-certify a questionable file.
The CLC is also continuing its awareness-raising and moral rearmament campaign to support the Congolese people in assuming their responsibilities and supports the opposition march, scheduled for 20 May. This march will address the issue of the integrity of the electoral process and general security in the country.
The CENI announced the start of work relating to the external audit of the electoral register in accordance with its electoral calendar, with the publication of the names of the national and international experts selected to constitute a mixed mission. However, the process is contested by several political actors and civil society, who demand that the audit be carried out by an independent and credible body to guarantee the fairness and transparency of the upcoming elections.
The integrity and credibility of the electoral process are major challenges for the DRC, which is trying to consolidate the rule of law and democracy in a context still marked by persistent insecurity and socio-economic challenges.