The forum of stakeholders in the electoral process in the DRC ended on Thursday after three days of debates and fruitful exchanges. The participants, from different political parties and civil society, submitted proposals for free, credible, transparent and peaceful elections in view of the 2023 elections.
The closing day was marked by several panels, addressing topics such as the engagement of political parties in the electoral process, the role of the judiciary in electoral disputes, and advancing the next steps towards fair and transparent elections. . Denis Kadima, President of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), notably took the floor to take stock of the various issues raised.
The participants expressed their expectations and concerns, highlighting the need to ensure the credibility of the electoral process and the transparency of the electoral register. They also demanded an audit of the electoral register and the recomposition of the CENI, in order to guarantee the confidence of the stakeholders. On the one hand, some were satisfied with the answers given by Denis Kadima, underlining his determination to respect the deadlines and to organize free and peaceful elections. On the other hand, dissenting voices insisted on the need for deeper changes to ensure the transparency and fairness of the electoral process.
Civil society welcomed the organization of the forum and called for gender to be taken into account in the composition of political party lists. This forum allowed a real confrontation of ideas and promoted a constructive dialogue between the various stakeholders, which represents a significant step forward in the electoral process in the DRC.
In conclusion, the forum of stakeholders in the electoral process in the DRC was an opportunity to raise crucial questions and formulate proposals for free, credible and transparent elections. It is now up to political actors to take these recommendations into consideration and work together to ensure the smooth running of the electoral process in 2023.