Title: Didi Manara and the politicization of the CENI: a worrying situation
Introduction :
The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) of the Democratic Republic of Congo is once again making the headlines following statements by Didi Manara Linga, second vice-president of the institution. His remarks provoked strong reactions from political actors and civil society. This controversy highlights issues of the politicization of the CENI and the legitimacy of its members, thus jeopardizing the integrity of the electoral process.
A contested electoral process:
The Lamuka coalition, through Professor Mathieu Kalele Ka-Bila, denounces the politicization of the CENI and questions the legitimacy of its members. According to them, an independent and impartial electoral process requires members of the CENI whose integrity and mastery of the legal framework for elections are not lacking. In particular, they criticize the report on the audit of the electoral register, described as superficial and not meeting the expectations of stakeholders.
The controversial words of Didi Manara:
Didi Manara, vice-president of the CENI, also aroused indignation by referring to article 6 paragraph 2 of the electoral law regarding the final lists. This statement was seen as an attempt to downplay the importance of independent auditing of the electoral register and to reject any idea of citizen control of the electoral rolls. The remarks were described as irresponsible by the African Commission for the Supervision of Elections (CASE), which questions Manara’s legitimacy as a member of the CENI.
Consequences for the electoral process:
This crisis within the CENI risks compromising the integrity of the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The political actors of the opposition and the civil society denounce a politicization of the institution and a questioning of its legitimacy. They express their concern about the transparency and credibility of the upcoming elections. CASE also calls on the Congolese people to withdraw from this electoral process, the outcome of which is already known and the results prefabricated.
Conclusion :
The CENI, long criticized for its lack of independence, once again finds itself at the heart of a controversy. Didi Manara’s statements and the reactions they provoked highlight the issues of politicization and legitimacy within the institution