Fire at the CENI warehouse: Elections in danger in South Kivu
On the night of Friday July 28 to Saturday July 29, 2023, a devastating fire broke out at the warehouse of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) located in the province of South Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to information provided by the CENI, the material damage is considerable, jeopardizing the smooth running of the next elections.
Early indications point to a worrying picture. Of the 1,292 electronic voting devices (DEVs), formerly known as voting machines, 963 were charred in the fire. In addition, lithium batteries, generators, motorcycles and other electoral materials were totally destroyed. This situation raises fears of delays in the organization of the elections of provincial deputies and municipal councillors, initially scheduled for August 3, 2023 in the province of South Kivu.
However, the CENI wants to be reassuring, saying that despite the material damage, this fire will not hinder the opening of the Offices for the Reception and Processing of Applications (BRTC) in the province of South Kivu. Nevertheless, the competent authorities have been called upon to carry out an in-depth investigation in order to determine the origin of the fire, as well as possible responsibilities. If material and intellectual authors are identified, they must be subject to sanctions in accordance with the law.
This incident raises serious questions about the security and integrity of the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Elections are a major challenge for the stability and democracy of the country, and any obstacle or incident likely to compromise their holding in a transparent and fair manner must be quickly resolved.
It is also crucial to put in place additional measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Securing electoral infrastructure and materials is essential to guarantee citizens’ confidence in the democratic process. The CENI and the relevant authorities must act quickly to restore the situation and organize fair and transparent elections in South Kivu.
In conclusion, the fire at the CENI warehouse in the province of South Kivu constitutes a real challenge for the organization of the next elections. The material damage is substantial, but the CENI affirms that this will not prevent the opening of the BRTCs. Nevertheless, investigations must be carried out to determine the causes of the fire and to punish those responsible. There is an urgent need to take additional measures to secure the electoral infrastructure in order to avoid such incidents in the future and to guarantee the confidence of the Congolese people in the electoral process