The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is preparing for presidential elections to be held in December 2023, putting incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi in a difficult situation. Political parties, activists as well as heads of public companies are already engaged in electoral campaign activities, stirring up the air of an anticipated presidential election.
While the presidential majority is calling on Felix Tshisekedi to run for a second constitutional term, protests are coming from everywhere: the international community, civil society and the political opposition do not trust the quality of the announced elections. In this dilemma, the president is forced to resort to his wisdom for a smooth passage through the 2023-2024 election season.
The crucial question remains: is it better to negotiate a political transition to stabilize the electoral process or to commit to contested elections within the constitutional deadline? The choice is difficult, because on the one hand, an early presidential election that does not offer credible guarantees could create a huge area of uncertainty and delay the Congolese democratic process. On the other hand, the decision to shift could pave the way for an uncontrollable wave of protest that would jeopardize the peace and stability of the country.
Everything suggests that President Tshisekedi is navigating between a rock and a hard place as the pressure mounts in the run-up to the December 2023 election.