The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) officially summoned the electorate this Sunday, June 25, 2023 for the next national legislative elections scheduled for December. Denis Kadima, the president of the CENI, took the floor to reassure the stakeholders that their vote would be respected.
In his speech, he stressed the CENI’s determination to work with integrity and honesty. He also specified that the CENI will scrupulously respect the choice of voters and will not set itself up as a major voter. He also recalled the innovations introduced to respond to criticism from stakeholders in past and present elections, including the production of a reliable electoral register of nearly 44 million voters.
The BRTCs of the CENI will receive the candidacy files of all political parties, political groups as well as independent candidates for 20 days, i.e. from June 26 to July 15, 2023. Then will come the litigation stage until the final publication. candidates selected for the national legislative elections.
The operations to come in accordance with the 2023-2024 electoral calendar must allow the constitution of the electoral register, the operation of reception and processing of the candidatures for the direct ballots, the organization of the direct and indirect ballots, the election of the governors as well as that senators.
However, the security situation in the country is deteriorating with deadly clashes between the FARDC and the Twa militiamen in Moba. Martin Fayulu, one of the presidential candidates, withdrew from the elections amid electoral fraud. The country is also faced with growing insecurity in Butembo which requires a reinforcement of troops for the protection of the populations.
Despite the challenges ahead, the DR Congo remains determined to succeed in the IX Games of La Francophonie in 2023, which will be held in Kinshasa for the first time. This cultural and sporting event is of particular importance for French-speaking youth and for the promotion of Congolese culture.
The Paris Summit also launched a call for investment to fight against poverty and climate change, a real challenge for the country. The government must find solutions to improve the socio-economic situation of the population and fight against corruption to ensure a more stable, more prosperous and more serene future for all Congolese.