The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) organized at Béatrice Hôtel, from May 31 to June 2, 2023, an exchange workshop in partnership with the Superior Council of the Judiciary, and in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). During this meeting, legal experts from the CENI and senior magistrates from various courts and tribunals of the Republic looked into the management of electoral disputes and learned solid lessons.
During this gathering, the 2nd Vice-President of the CENI, Didi MANARA LINGA stressed the importance of a common path between his two institutions in line with the application of legal and regulatory texts to electoral disputes. The discussions focused on various themes such as the economy and the context of the law on the identification and enrollment of voters; electoral law; recourse to general principles of law in electoral matters; the admissibility threshold for applications; the representativeness threshold; electoral systems; the effects of the exception of unconstitutionality on electoral disputes; semi-electronic voting; rules of procedure and jurisdiction in electoral matters; ineligibility subsequently established; the proportional system; the administration of evidence in electoral matters and the cancellation of ballots.
Ms. Pélagie EBEKA MUJANGI, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Justice, reminded senior judges of the decisive role they are called upon to play for the stability of institutions at this crucial stage in the public life of the DRC, particularly at the time of litigation. electoral.
These exchanges were led by leading figures of the judiciary and the CENI to strengthen the theoretical and practical knowledge of the stakeholders in the process on various aspects of the elections in the DRC. This initiative was supported by IFES and the Minister of Justice as well as MPs from the All-Coalition and the Opposition.
The CENI is an institution created to organize elections in the DRC, and is notably responsible for regulating and supervising the elections, nominating voters and publishing the results of the elections. By organizing such workshops, it seeks to provide technical support and build knowledge on electoral law and electoral disputes. Indeed, elections remain a major challenge for democracy and political stability in the DRC.