Title: Martin Fayulu leaves the electoral process in protest, credibility in question
Introduction :
The electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is experiencing new turmoil as Martin Fayulu, leader of Écidé and presidential candidate in 2023, decides to leave the ship. This decision reflects growing dissatisfaction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and highlights issues of credibility and inclusiveness in the process. In this article, we will examine the reasons that led Martin Fayulu to take this decision and the consequences that this could have on the electoral process.
An electoral process marred by fraud:
Martin Fayulu denounces the use of electoral fraud as a means of gaining power in the DRC. According to him, the previous three election cycles have failed to produce legitimate institutions and leaders due to this widespread fraud. He notably criticizes the CENI, which he accuses of using the people to perpetuate fraud and to sell an illusion of democracy. To support his remarks, Fayulu points to certain provisions of the electoral law which would favor the manipulation of electoral results.
The misguided mission of the CENI:
According to Martin Fayulu, the CENI has deviated from its initial mission and has become an instrument to steal the sovereignty of the people. He underlines in particular the article of the electoral law which authorizes the semi-electronic vote and gives the CENI the power to decide in the event of discrepancy between the results of the manual counting and those of the electronic device. For Fayulu, this provision opens the door to the electronic reception of fictitious voices, thus encouraging fraud. He believes it is time to put an end to this practice and preserve the integrity of the electoral process.
Opposition concerns ignored by CENI:
Opposition leaders, including Martin Fayulu, presented their concerns to the CENI during a meeting on June 30. However, the CENI’s response was considered too provocative by Fayulu. In particular, he criticizes the CENI’s refusal to submit to an external audit of the electoral register, which would aim to guarantee the authenticity of the data and to establish the confidence of the stakeholders. According to Fayulu, trust is essential to ensure the credibility of the elections and the integrity of the results.
Conclusion :
Martin Fayulu’s decision to quit the electoral process in protest raises questions about the credibility and inclusiveness of the process in the DRC. His criticisms of the CENI and electoral fraud highlight the challenges the country faces in establishing legitimate institutions and leaders. It is essential to take steps to build trust in the electoral process and ensure the transparency of the results