Can the state of siege in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo compromise the electoral process scheduled for December 2023? This is the question that arises after Ngaruye Muhozi Emmanuel’s statement. Elected provincial of North Kivu, he believes that the draft law on the distribution of seats in the National Assembly does not take into account the registration of voters in the territories of Rutshuru and Masisi. These regions being occupied by the Rwandan aggressors, their population struggles to access the right to vote. A situation that calls into question the participation of these regions in the upcoming elections.
The filing of candidacies for the national deputy is scheduled for June 25. However, Ngaruye Muhozi Emmanuel wonders for which voter the candidates of Rutshuru and Masisi will file their candidacy, while they are deprived of the right to vote. The situation requires exceptional courage that could be lacking. For him, the solution would be for the Head of State to firmly tackle the security situation in these regions.
The deputy evokes, in fact, “the Rwandan aggression of which the DRC is a victim in its eastern part”. The territories he represents are among the territories claimed by the Rwandan aggressor, which makes the situation even more complicated for the candidates.
Thus, Ngaruye Muhozi Emmanuel calls on the President of the Republic to make efforts to bring peace to these regions and to liberate all the territories conquered by the Rwandan army under cover of the M23 terrorists. The enrollment of voters in the territories concerned can then be carried out, and the electoral process will take place under favorable conditions.
This declaration is a reminder of the precarious situation in the country, where the security of the populations remains a major concern. It highlights the importance of a lasting peace for the success of the upcoming elections. It is also a call to the entire Congolese political class to unite to find a solution to a common problem.