The DRC is preparing for general elections in December 2023, but morale is low. Joseph Kabila’s political clan, the Front Commun pour le Congo, has reiterated its position that it will not participate in the elections without a consensual independent national electoral commission. This electoral commission should include delegates appointed by all the parties involved.
Currently, the FCC is challenging the Constitutional Court and the electoral law which do not guarantee transparency and equal opportunities for competitors. FCC national deputies recently declared that the current electoral process is characterized by fraud, amateurism and the glaring absence of a credible external audit, rendering it unreliable.
Voter registration has also raised concerns. Electoral mapping, the distribution of enrollment kits and the distribution of seats are carried out without taking into account the demography and the area of the electoral districts, according to the FCC. The FCC also criticized the quality of voter cards that fade after a while and become unusable.
The opposition, civil society and the majority in power do not speak the same language on the eve of the elections. The CENI reassures on the respect of the constitutional deadline, but the opposition fears chaotic elections due to the lack of consensus.
DRC was supposed to host the African Cup of Nations football in 2023, but it was postponed to 2025. DRC’s sporting performance was promoted to improve public image, but apparently it didn’t. enough to allay current political concerns.
Over the past decade, the DRC has experienced security challenges in some areas due to the proliferation of armed groups. Insecurity in the Beni region, located in eastern DRC, has led to attacks against civilians, as well as targeted killings of community leaders. The assassination of a civil society leader in this region is proof that the end of insecurity in this region is not yet in sight.
The writing of this article was inspired by criticisms of the ongoing electoral process in the DRC, as well as other articles reporting on the challenges facing the country. Some of these items include infrastructure issues, insecurity in some areas, common front concerns for Congo, and sports performance to improve the image of the DRC.