Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a controversial process and widespread mistrust
In recent years, elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have faced growing mistrust on the part of the population. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), headed by Mr. Denis Kadima Kazadi, is particularly criticized and many voices are being raised to question the credibility and appeasement of the electoral process.
The Congolese population, noting the militarization of the electoral process, turned away from the CENI. Furthermore, the majority of political leaders, in their quest for their personal interests, agreed to blindly support the Union Sacrée candidate, which led to a loss of confidence of the population in them.
Beyond distrust of the CENI, other elements call into question the inclusiveness and legitimacy of the electoral process in the DRC. Opposition political actions are limited, with bans, arrests and even assassinations while government actions are often used for electoral campaign purposes rather than for the benefit of the population. Furthermore, the media and journalists are systematically controlled and prevented from playing their role.
The impressive number of 920 political parties listed in the country, presented as an inclusiveness of the electoral process, is in reality a strategy to justify a balance which does not convince the population. The presidential majority in the DRC is built on pressure and corruption rather than on political convictions and the regime gives the impression of convincing itself of its inability to win a fair election.
In this context, it is clear that the elections in the DRC will be neither credible nor peaceful. The general distrust of the CENI, the Constitutional Court and the Superior Council of Audiovisual and Communication makes it difficult for the Congolese people to support the electoral process.
It is crucial that political and social actors become aware of this reality and work to restore the confidence of the population. Only true inclusiveness, based on uncontested principles and actors, will make it possible to conduct credible and peaceful elections in the DRC..
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