2023-09-12
Atypical candidates for the race for supreme office in the DRC
The race for the highest office in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is in full swing, with the submission of candidates for the presidency. If a few serious candidates stand out, the majority of applicants leave doubts about their true intentions.
Indeed, the candidates are divided between those who harbor real political ambitions and those who simply seek to take advantage of the status of presidential candidate to benefit from various advantages. Among these opportunistic candidates, we find spoilsport seeking to disrupt the electoral process, aspiring alibi hoping for some advantage and candidates without means who count on their withdrawal in favor of a better positioned candidate.
Since the 2006 elections, it has become rare to find a serious candidate with a real political program based on a clear and known vision. Most are content with vague declarations of intentions and populist promises. Once in power, these candidates often face difficulties and the error of trial and error.
The first candidates for the supreme office in 2023 suggest a repetition of the patterns observed during previous elections. This stagnation in the choice of candidates casts doubt on any real development in the Congolese political landscape.
Despite everything, the stakes of this presidential election are major for the DRC. It is necessary to see beyond opportunistic candidates and support candidates with genuine intentions for development and change for the country.
It remains to be hoped that serious candidates will emerge from this electoral process and propose coherent and ambitious programs for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Image source: [here](http://www.mediacongo.net/dpics/filesmanager/actualite/2023_actu1/9-sept/11-17/la_ceni_receptionne_les_candidatures_a_la_magistrature_supreme.jpg)