Article: Electoral tensions in the DRC: the audit of the electoral register divides the CENI and the Congolese opposition
The question of the audit of the electoral register in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to cause tensions between the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and the Congolese opposition. Martin Fayulu Madidi, president of the political party Commitment for Citizenship and Development (ECIDé), protests against the decision of the CENI plenary to refuse a new external audit.
In a tweet published on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, Martin Fayulu wrote: “Mr. Kadima, the plenary assembly of the CENI and their sponsors believe that the Congolese are sheep of panurge who will help them materialize a new electoral fraud in the DRC. They have it all wrong.” The opposition leader therefore denounces the position of the CENI, which he considers contemptuous of the Congolese people.
The CENI plenary rejected, in a press release published last Monday, the opposition’s proposal to organize a new external audit of the electoral register. According to the Electoral Commission, it would be illogical to undertake such an audit without a solid justification.
This decision by the CENI has revived political tensions in the DRC. The opposition accuses the commission of wanting to rig the next elections and question the credibility of the electoral process. The audit of the electoral register is a major demand of the opposition, which wishes to ensure the integrity of the data and the fairness of the electoral process.
In this situation of political crisis, it is essential to find a compromise between the CENI and the Congolese opposition in order to guarantee transparent and democratic elections. The confidence of the Congolese people in the electoral process is essential to ensure the political stability and the development of the country.
It is therefore necessary for political actors to work together to find a solution that responds to the legitimate concerns of the opposition and that reinforces the credibility of future elections in the DRC. A transparent and independent external audit of the electoral register could help to ease tensions and restore confidence between the different parties. The transparency and integrity of the electoral process are essential elements for building a solid democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In conclusion, the question of the audit of the electoral register in the DRC remains a subject of tension between the CENI and the Congolese opposition. It is imperative to find a compromise that guarantees transparent and democratic elections in order to preserve the political stability and the development of the country. An external audit of the electoral register, carried out in a transparent and independent manner, could help restore confidence between all the parties concerned.