The security and electoral challenges in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were recently highlighted by Corneille Nangaa, former president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and current president of “Action for the dignity of Congo and its people” (ADCP). In an open letter addressed to members of the United Nations Security Council, Nangaa expressed his concerns about the risk of disappearance of his country, the extermination of his people and the instability in the African Great Lakes region.
The growing insecurity in several regions of the DRC, notably in North Kivu, Ituri, South Kivu, Tshopo, North Katanga, Lualaba, Maï-Ndombe and even Kinshasa, is one of the main points raised by Nangaa. He also denounces violations of human rights and freedom of the press, highlighting the cases of journalists arbitrarily arrested, which creates self-censorship harmful to the profession.
Nangaa also highlights the flawed, corrupt and tribalized nature of the electoral process in the DRC. According to him, indications of electoral fraud have been accumulating since the creation of the CENI, and he accuses the institution of refusing any request for an independent audit of the electoral register. He claims that some regions have not even benefited from voter identification and registration, which distorts statistical data and seriously compromises the integrity of the electoral process.
Faced with this situation, Nangaa calls on the United Nations Security Council to act in order to avoid chaotic elections and to strengthen a “dictatorship” which could lead to civil war. He proposes sanctions measures against those responsible for the latest massacres in Goma and anyone who contributed to the disruption of the electoral process.
In conclusion, Nangaa urges the UN to work for elections organized in better conditions, by questioning the controversial electoral system and restoring confidence in the process. He also underlines the importance of the release of political prisoners and the safeguarding of democratic and constitutional principles for the Congolese people.
It is essential that the DRC can overcome these challenges to guarantee stability, democracy and respect for human rights in the country. Nangaa’s calls for intervention by the international community highlight the urgency of the situation and underline the need for concrete actions to support the DRC in its quest for a fair and transparent electoral process.