The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is going through critical moments for its democratic future. Indeed, the political and security situation is highly unstable and civil society is sounding the alarm. Citizen movements and civil society organizations have come together to examine the current situation of the ongoing electoral process, which seems opaque and non-inclusive. Catholic and Protestant lay people as well as citizens’ movements have called for general mobilization for “credible, inclusive and transparent elections in the country”.
The security situation is also volatile, with the proliferation of violent conflicts across the country, and the presence of militias affiliated with political parties, including the Forces for Progress and the Union Special Brigade for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS). ). In addition, foreign armies and armed groups occupy certain localities in the country.
Civil society is concerned about this situation and notes that without urgent corrective measures, the current electoral process will be “chaotic and will jeopardize national peace, unity and cohesion, which are very fragile in the DRC”. Citizen movements are also calling on the international community, which should take some responsibility for this situation.
The citizen structures require the audit of the electoral register by an independent institution with proven expertise in the matter, before the convocation of the electorate in September. Also, they demand the timely accreditation of election observers, while taking care to clarify the procedures for the accreditation of international observers. They invite the Congolese government to put an end to the insecurity in order to allow every Congolese citizen to participate in the vote.
It is important to recall that all previous claims relating to the credibility, transparency and inclusiveness of the electoral process have been ignored. The current electoral process is a succession of failures and could lead to a political and security disaster. Citizens’ movements call on the Congolese people to mobilize, in accordance with article 64, paragraph 1, of the Constitution, which gives “the right to all Congolese to defeat any individual or group of individuals who seizes power by force or who exercises in violation of the provisions of this Constitution”.
In short, the DRC is going through a critical period for its democratic future. Civil society has acted as a bulwark against this situation, which threatens to descend into chaos. Citizen movements call on the Congolese people to mobilize so that the minimum requirements are met for credible, inclusive and transparent elections in the country