The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently in the midst of an electoral process, with preparations underway for elections scheduled for December 2023. However, security issues continue to hover over some areas of the country, particularly in the territories of Rutshuru and Masisi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. North Kivu, who were victims of Rwandan attacks. Provincial deputy Ngaruye Muhozi Emmanuel, representing these areas, fears that the lack of voter turnout could distort the outcome of the elections. With this in mind, it recommends that the government work on the restoration of peace in these regions to ensure the electoral participation of the populations.
In this article, we report on the point of view of Ngaruye Muhozi Emmanuel concerning the electoral participation of the inhabitants of the territories of Rutshuru and Masisi in North Kivu. The repeated attacks by neighboring Rwanda have an impact on the ongoing electoral process and may call into question its transparency.
It is important to emphasize that the distribution of seats for the elections is based on statistics extracted from the electoral register, which must be cleaned to allow a transparent and democratic election. However, if a significant part of the population is not enrolled, there is a good chance that they will be deprived of their right to vote, which can lead to disputes at the end of the process.
To overcome these problems, Emmanuel suggests that the Congolese government work in a concerted way to prepare the ground before the electoral period in order to avoid any contestation. He also asks the President of the Republic to liberate the regions conquered by the Rwandan troops so that the population can return to their respective villages and participate in the elections.
Election observation requires the political will of the government to ensure a transparent and fair election for all candidates. Ngaruye Muhozi Emmanuel therefore encourages the government to invest in preparing the electoral ground in the areas affected by the Rwandan aggression.
Ultimately, the security situation in the regions of Rutshuru and Masisi remains a real challenge for the Congolese authorities in their desire to organize democratic and transparent elections. If calm is not restored quickly in these areas, this could have consequences for electoral participation, thus creating an imbalance and altering the transparency of the ballot.