Tensions are at their height in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as elections approach. The opposition, which calls for the requalification of the electoral process, shuns the plenaries on the law on the distribution of seats. During this time, the elected representatives of the majority have already declared admissible the bill on the distribution of seats. The deputies notably discussed the mismatch between the number of registered voters and the number of seats allocated in each electoral district across the country. Will the demands of the opposition be heard? The Political, Administrative and Legal Commission (PAJ) has 48 hours to clean up and deepen the text.
The opposition denounces a “corrupt and false” electoral file. It calls for the establishment of a truly independent CENI (National Independent Electoral Commission) as well as an audit of the electoral register by a reputable international structure. For opposition MPs led by Denis Kadima, the CENI is preparing electoral fraud in favor of President Tshisekedi.
As for the Minister of the Interior, Peter Kazadi, he is defending the bill before the national representation. It specifies that the number of seats to be filled per constituency is obtained by dividing the total number of registered voters by the number of seats to be filled. It adds that “a seat is allocated to any electoral district which would have a number lower than the electoral quotient. If the total number of seats thus allocated is lower than the number of seats of the province, an additional seat is allocated to each district which has the highest decimal with respect to the number of seats obtained until the total number of seats of the province has been obtained”.
Political tension is not the only sensitive subject in the DRC. The country faces violent recoveries, potential crimes against humanity and armed militias are rampant. The visit of the ICC prosecutor was not enough to reassure the population about the end of impunity. Fortunately, some bright spots are emerging, such as the launch of local armed intergroup talks in Ituri or the facilitation of access to drinking water in Kasai Central thanks to talks with Suez International.
The postponement of the national primary school leaving exams in 7 educational provinces deepens parents’ fears about the future of their children. The provincial deputy directors of the EPST of Kasai 1 and 2 have for their part received 30 motorcycles from Persia to reinforce free education in the region.
The situation is critical in the DRC, the international community calls for citizen vigilance in the face of violent repression and the risk of crimes against humanity. All MPs demand for their part the immediate release of Salomon Kalonda, Mike Mukebayi and Lem’s Omalanga.
The news is rich and dense in the DRC, and the stakes are high as the elections approach