The political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is once again very worrying. In a press release published by the dynamics of citizen movements, a coalition of NGOs including LUCHA, Filimbi, the Congolese Standing and the Justice in Action Movement, denounces an ongoing electoral pressure and a growing restriction of civic freedoms, thus endangering the nation.
According to the citizens’ movements, the controversial establishment of the office of the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI), the promulgation of a tailor-made electoral law and the debate on the law on the distribution of seats as well as the audit of the electoral file, are all proof that the CENI and the power in place are carrying out this process without taking into account the demands of all the stakeholders, especially the opposition and civil society.
According to this press release, “the examination by the National Assembly of the bill on the distribution of seats while the electoral register which underlies it is contested with good reason by the political opposition and civil society” illustrates the cavalier behavior and forced from this process.
Faced with this situation, the citizens’ movements recommend the suspension of the examination of the bill on the distribution of seats to build a consensus around the electoral register and the whole process.
They also invite the international community, in particular the partner countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo, concerned and concerned by this crisis, to stand on the side of the Congolese people. Citizen movements are thus calling for targeted sanctions against political and military leaders who are involved in organizing fraudulent elections and who violate public freedoms through repression.
The political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a major concern for democracy and respect for human rights.
This is how the international community must take into account all the recommendations of these citizens’ movements in order to ensure transparent, credible, peaceful, democratic and inclusive elections, and to guarantee peace and stability in the DRC as well as in the Greater Congo region