Current events in the Democratic Republic of Congo continue to generate debate and questions. While the Independent National Electoral Commission maintains its timetable for the next elections, some political and civil society actors are calling for a prior dialogue. Among them, the Lay Coordinating Committee (CLC) and the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Denis Mukwege.
In an interview granted to the women’s desk of Actualité.cd, Nene Bintu, a female civil society executive from South Kivu, expresses her support for the holding of elections within the deadlines set by the CENI. However, she points out that if the dialogue is really aimed at fostering inclusion in the electoral process, it can be supported. On the other hand, if the dialogue serves only to share the advantages of power, she will not adhere to it.
The CLC and Denis Mukwege believe that dialogue is essential to find appropriate responses to current political, social and security challenges. Faced with injustices and violations of human rights, they consider that dialogue is the only way out of the crisis.
Nene Bintu stresses the importance of making the terms of reference for the dialogue public, so that all the actors can examine them and take an informed decision. She also shares some of the opposition’s concerns, particularly regarding the final voter list, inclusion in the CENI, and changes to the electoral law that have not been taken into account.
The issue of women’s representation in the electoral process is also raised. Despite the innovation aimed at encouraging the participation of women, only 13% of the candidates are female. Nene Bintu calls for options that meet the demands while respecting the electoral calendar.
This voice of civil society highlights the challenges of pre-electoral dialogue in the DRC and calls for in-depth reflection on the conditions of inclusion and transparency to guarantee democratic and fair elections.
The political situation in the DRC remains complex and evolving, but the call for a dialogue ahead of the elections shows the desire of many actors to find peaceful and inclusive solutions to guarantee stability and democracy in the country. The next few months will be crucial to observe the evolution of this situation and the impact of the dialogue on the ongoing electoral process.