Title: The filing of candidacies for the elections in the DRC arouses little enthusiasm in certain regions
Introduction: While the period for submitting candidacies for the provincial and national elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is coming to an end, certain regions of the country seem little animated by this major political event. The Candidature Reception and Processing Offices (BRTC) in the cities of Beni and Butembo, as well as the territories of Beni and Lubero, in the province of North Kivu, have not yet received any candidate files, raising concerns about to the rigor of the electoral process.
Worrying delays in submitting applications
According to Deogratias Mbayahi, branch manager of the National Electoral Commission (Ceni) in Beni, no application file has been submitted to his office so far. A similar situation was reported in Lubero, as well as in Butembo.
This lack of enthusiasm in the filing of candidates raises concerns about the rigorous processing of files and the possibility for political parties to collect all the lists of candidates within the time limits. Kizito Bin Hangi, communications officer at the African Association for the Defense of Human Rights (Asadho), believes that this delay could have a negative impact on the credibility of the electoral process.
The importance of respecting deadlines and the credibility of the Ceni
Faced with this situation, Bernard Kambale Kaputula, spokesperson for the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Udps), presidential party, stresses the importance of respecting the deadlines set by law for the submission of candidacies. He recalls that the official calendar of the Ceni provides for a deadline for submitting applications to July 15, 2023.
However, Maître Ghislain Syauswa, spokesman for Ensemble pour la République, the party of Moïse Katumbi, expresses the opposition’s lingering doubts about the credibility of the Ceni.
Conclusion: As the nomination period for the elections in the DRC draws to a close, some parts of the country are facing a low level of interest in submitting nominations. This situation raises concerns about the rigor of the electoral process and the possibility for political parties to collect all the lists of candidates within the time limits. It is crucial to respect the deadlines provided for by law and to guarantee the credibility of the National Electoral Commission (CENI) to ensure fair and transparent elections