The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) in the Democratic Republic of Congo recently reaffirmed a ban on all pre-election campaign activity four months before the elections scheduled for December. This announcement was made by the communication director of the CENI, Jean-Baptiste Itipo.
According to the CENI, the electoral campaign period is strictly defined by the electoral calendar made public by the institution. Thus, any activity that resembles pre-campaign must be prohibited by the competent authorities.
The CENI communication director also pointed out that there is no precise term to define the pre-campaign in the electoral law. He expressed concern about the pre-campaign activities authorized by some local officials.
In this process aimed at supervising the electoral campaign, the High Council for Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC), as the regulatory body for the media in the DRC, has undertaken to support the CENI. Measures will be taken to avoid any media slippage during the electoral campaign, in particular through the signing of a roadmap by the directors of the media.
The electoral calendar provides that the electoral campaign will take place in two stages. From November 19 to December 18, 2023, the campaign will be led by candidates for the presidency of the Republic, national deputies and provincial deputies. From December 4 to December 18, 2023, it will be the turn of candidates for municipal and local councils to lead their campaign.
This pre-campaign ban aims to ensure fairness and transparency in the electoral process in the DRC. It testifies to the importance given by the CENI to the regulation of political activities before the official start of the electoral campaign