The consultations initiated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) with the political opposition in the Democratic Republic of Congo have generated mixed reactions. While some welcome this move as a way to lend credibility to the ongoing electoral process, others question the effectiveness of these consultations in resolving issues related to the electoral process.
According to the electoral civil society organization “Acting for transparent and peaceful elections” (AETA), these consultations are a step towards giving credibility to the electoral process. They allow for greater stakeholder inclusiveness, which is essential for democratic and transparent elections. By meeting the political leaders of the opposition, the CENI shows its willingness to take into account their concerns and find realistic solutions to improve the electoral process.
However, the Synergy of Citizen Election Observation Missions (Symocel) is more skeptical about the effectiveness of these consultations. She underlines that the problems raised by the opposition will not be resolved in a single meeting and that the credibility of the electoral process requires more efforts. While recognizing the importance of the CENI’s spirit of openness, the Symocel coordinator believes that these consultations do not automatically guarantee the credibility of the electoral process.
Some civil society actors, such as the president of New Congolese Civil Society, Jonas Tshombela, welcome the openness of the CENI but point out that certain political demands do not fall within its jurisdiction. According to him, it is necessary to resort to the political authorities to solve these questions. He insists on the idea of an inclusive electoral process, where the best interests of the population take precedence.
Faced with these different points of view, it is important to take into account the legitimate concerns of the political opposition while recognizing the limits of the CENI in the resolution of certain political problems. It could be interesting to extend the scope of the consultations to other stakeholders, as suggested by Symocel, in order to obtain a more complete and representative view of the situation.
Ultimately, the credibility of the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a complex challenge that requires the collaboration of all stakeholders. The consultations initiated by the CENI with the political opposition are a first step, but there is still a long way to go to achieve democratic and transparent elections that inspire the confidence of all the actors involved.