DRC: Moïse Katumbi’s candidacy file for the presidential election received late by the CENI
In the context of preparation for the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the submission of candidacy files is an essential step for contenders for the supreme position. However, in the case of Moïse Katumbi, former governor of Katanga province, this step did not take place without difficulties.
Indeed, during the presentation of Moïse Katumbi’s candidacy file to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), an incident occurred. Katumbi’s team showed up with photocopies of the required documents, while the CENI required the originals to carry out the authentication.
According to those close to Moïse Katumbi, two essential documents from the file, namely the extract from the criminal record and the certificate of nationality, were missing. Katumbi’s emissaries had nevertheless brought certified copies, but the CENI maintained its request for originals.
Faced with this situation, Moïse Katumbi’s camp announced its intention to return the next day, armed with the complete file. Hervé Diakese, spokesperson for the Katumbi camp, declared: “We took certified copies of the originals, and they demand the originals from us. In itself, this poses no problem for us. It is a simple administrative formality. This does not give rise to any legal consequences, we are not going to argue about it. We will file tomorrow peacefully.”
It is important to emphasize that this procedure for validating the originals of the required documents complies with the electoral legislation in force in the DRC. All applications are treated equally, to ensure the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.
This incident in the submission of Moïse Katumbi’s candidacy file highlights the importance of respecting procedures and legal requirements in an electoral process. Let us hope that this situation will be resolved quickly and that all candidates will be able to participate in the presidential election under fair conditions.