Election of municipal councilors in the DRC: a surprising decision by the CENI
The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recently announced a surprising decision regarding the organization of elections for municipal councillors. According to correspondence from the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, Security and Customary Affairs Peter Kazadi, the CENI has decided to limit the organization of these elections only to the communes located in the provincial capitals.
This decision is motivated by the numerous customary conflicts and the problems of administrative delimitation which persist in certain territorial entities of the DRC. According to the correspondence, it appears necessary to postpone the elections in these entities where the conflicts are particularly bitter.
This announcement took the independent candidates by surprise, as well as the political parties and groups which had already paid their deposit for the municipalities not concerned. However, the CENI reassured these candidates by assuring them that their deposit would be taken into account when organizing the election of municipal councilors in 2024, in the remaining municipalities. A revised calendar will be established by the CENI and published as soon as possible.
It is important to note that these elections of municipal councilors are part of a set of combined elections, also including the presidential election, the national and provincial legislative elections. This organization of elections at different territorial levels is a first in the DRC since the adoption of the new constitution in 2006.
The decision to limit the organization of elections for municipal councilors to provincial capitals raises questions about the fairness and representativeness of these elections. Indeed, this means that many communes in the DRC will not be included in the democratic process. It is worth asking whether this might not reinforce inequalities and limit citizen participation in these excluded regions.
However, the CENI claims to act with a view to guaranteeing security and stability during these elections, avoiding areas at risk of conflict. It is therefore important to take into account the realities of the country and the challenges it faces to understand this decision.
Be that as it may, this CENI announcement raises debates and questions about the democratic and inclusive organization of elections in the DRC. It is necessary to closely follow the evolution of the situation and to see how this decision will be perceived and accepted by all the political actors and citizens of the country.
In the meantime, candidates and political parties will have to prepare for this change in timetable and take into account the new CENI directives to participate in the communal elections in 2023.