Crisis of confidence between the CENI and the Ministry of the Interior: a worrying situation for the elections
For some time now, a crisis of confidence has arisen between the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and the Ministry of the Interior in charge of securing the elections. This situation, which is now displayed in the public square, raises serious concerns about the smooth running of the electoral process.
It all started when the CENI banned the presence of agents of the Ministry of the Interior in the Offices for the reception and processing of applications (BRTC). This decision was strongly criticized by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Interior, Peter Kazadi, during a press briefing. According to him, it is not an interference, but simply respect for the finance law which gives his ministry a role of supervising the revenue from the filing of candidacies.
However, the CENI maintains that only agents of the General Directorate of Administrative, State and Participation Revenue (DGRAD) are authorized to be present in the BRTCs. Their mission is to deliver the collection notes to candidates who wish to pay the application fee set at 1,600,000 FC.
This public bickering between the CENI and the Ministry of the Interior does not bode well for the electoral process. In a context already marked by a crisis of confidence between the stakeholders, these frictions risk aggravating the situation. It is essential that these two institutions manage to resolve their differences in a peaceful and internal manner in order to preserve the serenity necessary for fair and transparent elections.
Moreover, this situation highlights the issues related to trust in the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Opponents are calling in particular for an audit of the electoral register by an independent international firm. The CENI, for its part, believes that a new external audit could delay the organization of the elections scheduled for December 20, 2023.
In the face of these tensions, it is crucial that all stakeholders demonstrate responsibility and compromise to guarantee democratic and transparent elections. Citizens’ confidence in the electoral process must be restored in order to strengthen the legitimacy of the future institutions resulting from these elections