News in the DRC: Delly Sesanga boycotts the plenary on the distribution of electoral seats
The national deputy Delly Sesanga, one of the leaders of the opposition in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), refused to take part in the plenary of this Monday, May 29, 2023, dedicated to the examination of the bill on the distribution of seats for upcoming legislative, provincial, municipal and local elections.
He denounced the text drawn up by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and adopted by the government, which according to him contains falsified figures and aims to lead to fraudulent and chaotic elections. According to the deputy Sesanga, the law is based on false figures made by the CENI to accredit a “fraudulent” process.
For this opponent, the Congolese cannot accept “this power which works in secret for the partition of the country and the balkanization”. He also confirmed the continuation of demonstrations on the ground by four opposition leaders, in order to put pressure on the regime of President Félix Tshisekedi “which tends, through this electoral process, to consecrate the balkanization of the DRC”. .
The seats of the territories of Masisi and Rutshuru as provided for in the past elections, have been renewed in this bill. The CENI’s move has been contested by civil society actors and other political actors. The experts recruited by the central electoral office, however, declared this electoral file reliable, after the refusal of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) to participate.
The government adopted the draft law on the distribution of seats at the last meeting of the Council of Ministers. However, the opposition’s challenge risks complicating this already complex electoral process.
The government’s response remains unknown at this time.