Title: The primaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo: an innovative approach to combat predatory governance
Introduction :
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faces a predatory governance system that hinders its development and harms the well-being of its population. Faced with this reality, actors from citizen movements and civil society have set up a platform called “Alternative for a New Congo” (ACN), with the ambition of fighting against this system and promoting significant political change. One of the initiatives of this platform is the organization of primaries, a participatory process aimed at choosing candidates for elections in a transparent and democratic framework.
I. The political context and the need for change in the DRC
The DRC is plagued by a corrupt and predatory system of governance, where particular interests take precedence over the general interest. Congolese politicians have often been criticized for their lack of accountability and involvement in harmful practices such as corruption, embezzlement and favoritism. This situation has created deep discontent among the population who aspire to radical political change.
II. The ACN platform: an alternative for a new Congo
The “Alternative for a New Congo” (ACN) platform brings together civil society organizations, citizen movements, political organizations as well as independent personalities. Its objective is to offer an alternative to predatory governance by promoting values such as transparency, responsibility and citizen participation.
III. The primaries: a participatory process for choosing candidates
Within the ACN platform, the primary process is put in place to select the candidates who will run in the various elections. Primaries are a democratic mechanism that allows platform members to actively participate in the selection of candidates. They can express their preferences and choose, among the proposed members, those they consider the most competent and the most representative of their aspirations.
IV. The advantages of primaries in the fight against predatory governance
Primaries offer several advantages in the fight against predatory governance. First of all, they guarantee a transparent and fair process for selecting candidates, which helps to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and legitimize the chosen politicians. In addition, primaries favor the emergence of new political faces, thus allowing the renewal of the political class and the possibility of introducing new ideas and approaches.
Conclusion :
The organization of primaries within the ACN platform in the Democratic Republic of Congo represents an innovative approach in the fight against predatory governance. By giving members the opportunity to choose candidates in a participatory and transparent manner, primaries offer a promising alternative for more responsible governance focused on the general interest. Let us hope that this initiative will pave the way for a new Congo, where anti-values will be eradicated and the well-being of the population will prevail.