In the political news in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an atypical candidate is making a lot of noise. This is John Tibasima Bahemuka, an unsuccessful former deputy candidate who has just announced his candidacy for the national deputy but also his desire to run for the presidential chair.
What makes Bahemuka’s candidacy special is the fact that he is running from his cell in the central prison of Bunia, where he has been detained since October 2021. Accused of wanting to unify the local armed groups of Ituri in a single militia, Bahemuka remains committed to serving his country and believes his candidacy is a response to the need for change and good governance in the DRC.
While more than 2,000 detainees from the central prison have obtained their voter cards, Bahemuka has been notified but is still awaiting his judgment. His family have expressed concern about the slow processing of his application, but Bahemuka remains hopeful and says he has a team on the ground to support his candidacy.
This exceptional situation raises questions about the civic rights and the eligibility of detainees to stand for election. According to the electoral law in force, only those convicted of war crimes, genocide and against humanity are definitively ineligible. Thus, as long as Bahemuka has not been sentenced, he retains the right to stand for election.
The story of John Tibasima Bahemuka illustrates the complexity of the political landscape in the DRC and highlights the challenges the country faces in terms of governance. As the elections approach, it will be interesting to follow the development of this extraordinary candidacy and see how it will be perceived by the Congolese population